Ming He

Ming He Owned by Wingstrike
Basic Information Bender type: Nonbender Title: Steel Dragon Alignment: Neutral Good Current age: 27 General Status: Alive Gender: Female Sexuality: Bisexual Height: 6'1 Hair Color: Black Eye Color: Green Relationship Status: Single OOC Plans: Mei and Ming He will have a bit of a student-teacher dynamic going considering Ming He has had more experience in life fighting. Yin Shi is coming along nicely so far, despite the impromptu cancellation.
Appearance Ming He has long black hair and piercing green eyes. She is of slightly above average height and wears a lightweight outfit consisting of a black leather jacket with platinum braces, shoulder-pads, collar and reinforced gloves. Underneath the jacket Ming He wears a short black dress with red streaks along with black boots with platinum greaves as well as a series of black platinum mechanised joints attached to her arms and legs. She also wears a black belt to hold a scabbard as well as other weapons.
Personality Ming He is generally calm, collected and not afraid to back up threats she makes. While she isn't evil natured, Ming He prefers to resolve matters in her own way, typically outside of the law. She enjoys cutting loose and not holding back on someone, and is quick to draw her weapon when confronted, frequently seen grinning in the middle of a fight at the prospect of being able to lash out. Quite often there is a chance of severe collateral damage occurring during her fights, causing some property owners in Republic City to become extremely nervous whenever Ming He is around. This indiscriminate damage has put her on shaky terms with the local police force at times, in spite of her cooperation in turning in wanted criminals. She is willing to work for anyone who offers her a job as either a hired sword or as a bounty hunter, as long as innocent civilians are not harmed. Typically she accepts bounties on wanted criminals and tracks them down before disabling them, or killing them if required. Ming He will carry out her job until completed unless it turned out she had been lied to on the contract's premise or is not paid. Sometimes however, she has been known to help out without expecting anything in return, usually if a personal matter is related. After having spent a substantial time by herself, Ming He was initially not overly fond of teamwork, preferring to work by herself without someone else there to slow her down. Though after some time in the city she began to rethink this and was more open to cooperation, provided she can trust her supposed teammates. Additionally she is willing to show the proper respect to worthy fighters if they've proven their skills. Ming He is not afraid to use any tactic to win, short of taking hostages, either fighting dirty, ambushing or using traps, as long as the strategy succeeds. Generally speaking she favours close range combat with her platinum swords or quickly incapacitating opponents with the raw physical provided by her platinum mechanised joints before they can react. However, she is trained in various other weapons such as the naginata, daggers, dual swords and the katana. At the start of a fight, Ming He will often open with a rapid take down of a target before they can react and tries to keep them off balance. Ming He is impressed by bending arts, but strives to supersede benders with her own abilities, holding a slight grudge for their natural ability to manipulate the elements. Not one to be shown up, being defeated by a bender drives her to train harder and become stronger. Ming He is not only a well versed fighter, but is also knowledgeable in other practical skills such as first aid, smithing and engineering. As such, she built a set of custom mechanised joints out of platinum plating, rendering it completely immune to metalbending, while also being far more versatile than other mechanised joints. A similar style of construction was used in creating her collapsible shield, allowing her to use her free hand for other task without losing the ability to deflect attacks. Additionally, Ming He also designed the joints to feature a rapid ejection system at the press of a hidden button below the wrist, allowing her to discard the joints at a moment's notice if the situation requires. Following repeated fights with the Jade Dragon and Akar's soundbending, Ming He engineered a collapsible helmet into the back of her armour that can be quickly deployed to protect her head from impacts and sonic attacks. While the helmet has a plexiglas visor, her vision is limited while its deployed, preventing her from using more often. Unlike most individuals wielding a concussion cannon, Ming He uses them as close range weapons to maximise their impact and force enemies back, a further example of her unorthodox style.
History Both of Ming He's parents, Nuo Ju and Cheng, were soldiers in the Earth Republic Army, working as ranking officers and lived in Omashu. Both were noted for leading multiple campaigns in driving out bandits and raiders, helping to ensure peace within the city and the surrounding area. By the age of sixteen, Ming He was sufficiently trained to be dispatched alongside other soldiers, taking part in several successful missions. She was respected for having achieved considerable skill for her young age and continued to take on more assignments, becoming increasingly adept in various weapons. At age twenty, Ming He had taken her parents place in the Republic's military as a fully fledged squad commander. Her parents assumed a less active roll as military advisers to the government, helping to organise the city's defence and military escort of trade convoys. Three years later, Ming He's parents were killed by a group of raiders who managed to infiltrate the city by bribing some of the guards. She eventually found the raider's camp and killed their leader in revenge, despite her orders to help protect the city walls. With her faith in the city she protected shattered, Ming He became displaced, travelling around the world as a bounty hunter until her journey took her to Republic City. Before she left her home, Ming He took parts of her parents' armour and had them attached to her own outfit, relying on the platinum on them to provide superior protection, reducing the need for a full suit of armour and uses the underlying fabric to insulate her. Believing that in a place with a history like Republic City's, having seen countless upheavals over time, many potentially lucrative jobs awaited her.
Powers Non-bender Initial Abilities Martial Arts (Passive) The user is adept in basic martial arts, allowing them to stay on par with someone who has focused their training on bending. Weaponry (Passive) The user has trained extensively with the use of classical weapons in order to make up for their deficit when it comes to taking on a bender. Agility Training (Passive) The user has received extensive training in their agility in order to increase their raw physical speed. They would easily exceed any person who relied on their bending. Weight Training (Passive) The user has received extensive training with weights and other forms of exercise in order to increase their raw physical strength. They would easily exceed any person who relied on their bending. Endurance Training (Passive) The user has received extensive training in physical endurance in order to increase the amount of physical energy they have at any given time. They would easily exceed any person who relied on their bending. Basic Abilities (Note: Once a power is chosen, it cannot be changed.) Mechanized Joints (Passive) The user has and is knowledgeable on how to use steam powered, mechanized joints which augments the users strength, jump height/length and forward speed. However, the use has a deficit place upon their over all agility and mobility, making it harder for them to dodge as well as turn quickly. (Achieved after 1 week) First Aid (Passive) The user is knowledgeable in basic medical training using herbs and other medicines to treat minor injuries on themselves and others. (Achieved after 2 weeks) Weapon Master (Achieved after 1 month) Initial Abilities Smithing and Engineering (Passive) The user is knowledgeable in crafting weapons, armors and even basic machinery made of metal and even basic composite materials. Metal is more durable but heavy and cumbersome while composites are lighter but more vulnerable. Melee Weapon Mastery (Passive) The user has extensively trained with all forms of melee weaponry in order to become a master in the usage of them. As such, the user may use any form of melee weapon to its fullest potential. (This includes things such as: swords, axes, maces, etc) Platinum Forging (Passive; Exclusive to Weapon Master) The user is knowledgeable in forging anything made of platinum. Items are highly resilient and are unable to be metalbent. Not only this, but they are stronger and sharper than regular metals; making them able to cut through, withstand impacts better or break things a normal weapon could not. Platinum weighs just as much as regular metal would. NOTE: Under no circumstances should a character have a weapon, armor or devices made out of platinum without this power. Collapsible Shield (Exclusive to Weapon Master) The user has the knowledge to construct and use collapsible shields attached to the forearms. While normally retracted, the shields extend outwards to provide more protection against incoming attacks. These shields can be made out of a variety of materials to augment their weight and strength. Advanced Abilities (Note: Once a power is chosen, it cannot be changed.) Lightfoot (Passive) The user is knowledgeable in the art of stealth. The user has received training that allows them to do a multitude of stealth maneuvers; from sneaking silently to achieving quick attacks without making a sound. (Achieved after 2 months) Concussion Cannon (Requires 2 open slots) The user is knowledgeable in building and the use of steam powered concussive technology. These cannons can come in many forms from large and bulky cannons that give large bursts but are quite encumbering to smaller cannons that have lessened effects but are more maneuverable. The effects of the concussive blasts upon people are disorienting and, unfortunately, these effects do not know friend from foe and will even effect the user if used repeatedly in a short time. NOTE: These weapons are illegal to use. (Achieved after 7 months)
Weapons Concussion Cannons Ming He has a small concussion attached to the underside of each forearm, letting her use them in close quarters to force enemies back or launch surprise ranged attacks. Charge Jets The back of Ming He's armour can be fitted with two modified concussion cannons, which can be charged by redirecting power from the cannon on Ming He's arms. When activated, the Charge Jets release a shockwave which propel her forwards at an incredible speed. However, using them reduces Ming He's mobility and temporarily disables her arm-mounted cannons. Crossbow Often used for disabling targets quietly from a distance, Ming He sometimes carries a small crossbow which can fire arrows over a distance with reasonable accuracy. When using the crossbow Ming He also carries a quiver capable of carrying 24 platinum-tipped arrows. Flechette Launcher An add-on for the concussion cannons, each launcher clips around Ming He's wrist and holds ten platinum flechettes, which are launched from the concussion cannon by firing a narrow, focused blast. Each clip is spring-loaded, allowing for semi-automatic fire. When empty, the clips can be quickly ejected and replaced with fresh ones kept on the back of Ming He's waist. Kokugatsu Armour A form of armour and mech joints made from composite instead of metal, making them lighter substantially lighter and allows Ming He to move around with greater agility and less noise. However, this reduces the maximum strength of the joints, making them better suited for stealth operations rather than direct combat. Each forearm is also loaded with a large retractable platinum blade. A black cloak can be attacked to the suit, made with a composite weave to reduce damage. Platinum Daggers Ming He keeps a dagger stored on the underside of each of her vambraces, they're also useful for day-to-day tasks. Platinum Reinforced Gloves Part of Ming He's outfit includes a pair of gloves which are laced with platinum to protect her hands. While they're unsuited for blocking direct attacks from weapons, they give her an edge in unarmed combat and can severely cripple opponents with a well placed punch boosted by the mechanised joints. Platinum Katana While the katana isn't Ming He's main weapon, the single-edged blade possess tremendous cutting power and can be dual wielded alongside the wakizashi for added versatility. When equipped, the blade is carried on a scabbard attached to Ming He's belt along with the wakizashi. Platinum Nagitana A long close combat weapon consisting of platinum blade on the end of a folding composite pole, allowing it longer reach than other weapons. It's large size makes it unsuited for combat is closed spaces or discretion, so it's kept unused except for tasks involving frontal assault. By collapsing the handle the weapon can easily be stored on Ming He's back, next to the Tsurugi. Platinum Tsurugi Ming He's main weapon, the tsurugi is a double edged sword forged from platinum, making it immune to metal bending and stronger than most other weapons. A lotus flower is carved into both sides of the blade. It's normally kept in a scabbard on Ming He's back. Platinum Wakizashi A shorter single-edge blade, the wakizashi is mainly a backup weapon due to its reduced combat potential but is more often used in conjunction with the katana. Tsugumori Armour Ming He's standard armour joints are made from platinum to supplement her regular platinum armour, providing additional protection and enhanced strength, with the added benefit of being immune to metalbending. Several of Ming He's signature innovations include the ability to quickly jettison or attach pieces on the fly and can hold several attachments, such as weapon holsters and concussion cannons. A later modification saw addition of a collapsible helmet with a plexiglas visor that protects Ming He from impacts and muffles soundbending attacks, though her range of vision is reduced when wearing it. While the Tsugumori was used as the basis in creating the Yukimori and Kokugatsu armours, it is constantly being upgraded and modified with new features. Yukimori Armour Mechanised joints made from pure platinum, these are reserved for direct combat and maximum collateral damage. Unlike the Tsugumori, this set is made with larger mechanised joints. However, their weight slows Ming He down considerably, but in return drastically amplifies her strength. The Yukimori is more limited in the dexterity it allows, but can let the user carry and move far heavier objects and has a series of small retractable platinum blades built into the underside of the fore and upper arm. The armour is also built with larger concussion cannons as the recoil can be handled more easily, which are built on top of the arms instead and able to rotate; switching between ranged weapons or amplifying physical strikes. The bulkier design of the armour also increases the wearers height by about half a foot.
Notes & Trivia Ming He's artwork was created by milyknight (http://milyknight.weebly.com)