Magus

Name/Title: Jin Xia,

Gender: Female

Age: Looks 20

Personality: Shy, unforgiving, lacking empathy for others. One would immediately assume this when first meeting her. Really, she is one who holds a kind heart while striving for her goal. She is calm and rational in every aspect of a day, from training to simply brushing teeth. Efficiency is key. While her face may just seem annoyed at everyone, she is predominantly happy. Jin’s confidence cannot be hindered with, as if impenetrable. She will rarely be in anguish as she usually accepts whatever her path throws at her.

Appearance: https://i.imgur.com/RABPilr.jpg

Biography & Family History: Born in a family of Taoists, Jin Xia is to be the next head of the family to continue the legacy of the family tradition. The Xia family dates back to the 4th century, who were religiously affiliated with Taoism, a religious or philosophical tradition of Chinese origin which emphasizes living in harmony with the Tao. The Tao is a fundamental idea in most Chinese philosophical schools; in Taoism, however, it denotes the principle that is the source, pattern and substance of everything that exists. The Xia’s Origin is Augmentation, one that instills enhancements in any form of “modification”, physical, spiritual etc. This goals of achieving “the perfect body” is still continued to the present, with the Origin becoming more defined through every generation. The Xia’s have been noted for their mystical use through their practices in Chinese medicine, spiritual healing and daily life. This family has strived for many generations to achieve longevity through Taoist alchemy to become xian. It is known that this particular family seemed to live much longer than the average person at the time and looking much younger than their actual age. Enlightened and immortal beings are referred to as xian.

Through countless generations, the Xia family have developed countless medicines using chinese herbs (which of course mean trial and error) to find a way to achieve immortality. The closest the family has gotten so far is an effect of rejuvenation by keeping the cells healthier and longer. While this isn’t complete immortality, the family still continued to strive for it.

The Xia were a family that possessed white hair, which is quite symbolic of divine beings, rather, it was most likely genetics. However, this family was also born on the year of the dragon, which has also influenced the “celestial” status of the family. The Xia family flourished as Taoists, specifically in the study of Chinese medicine, which had maintained their high status that their appearance gave off.

Jin was an exceptional Taoist and learner, picking up all the necessities to continue the legacy, which lead to her being one of the high end Taoists. This family focused on the medical field of Taoism while using the concepts when developing their medicines - such as Tai Chi. The Xia used Qi to extrapolated the positive effects of each medicine and diluted the negative effects (but that doesn’t mean there won’t be any negative effects). Around the age of late 20’s, she began to branch out her path across other cultures to find new herbs and substances for her own use as well as different methods in each different culture. She adopted many ideas from Asia and Europe on her journey and developed her own style of medicines by incorporating other culture’s herbs and methods. Her style of clothing also changed.

Jin acts as a travelling shop, usually taking residence in an area of a couple to a few months before continuing onto another area. She sells her chinese medicine in order to make her living - usually setting up a temporary shop. While it seems almost impossible to accumulate enough money to survive, she is well known across her travels for her medicine, which has developed a market for her products. She is usually referred to as “The Wandering medical shop.”

Origin: Augmentation

Elemental Affinity: Water and Wind

Number of Magic Circuits: C

Quality of Magic Circuits: A

Od: A

Magecraft:
Qi metamorphosis:
Qi translates as "air" and figuratively as "material energy", "life force", or "energy flow”. In this spirit, the universe is seen as being in a constant process of recreating itself, as everything that exists is a mere aspect of qi, which, "condensed, becomes life; diluted, it is indefinite potential". She is able to manipulate the concept of qi and use it for mana (Qi) restoration and qi manipulation (such as crafting physical objects - mostly used for acupuncture needles and tools required for her Chinese medicine - and simple things like pens and notebooks). This skill takes many decades to master and at her current state, she can only make relatively small things. Even constructing a flip lighter is considered as “highly difficult”. This can also be used to fix damaged items - restoring it’s Qi.

Neidian (Inner Alchemy):
Breathing exercises were used to preserve jing or "life essence" and bodily postures were used to improve qi or "energy" flow in the body. Neidan comprises the elixir from the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the cultivation of substances already present in the body; Jing Ch’i and Shen. Jing which can be translated as "life essence". A person is born with Jing and it governs the developmental growth processes in the body.  Ch'i which can be translated as "energy" or "vital energy". Ch'i energy results from the interaction of yin and yang.  Shen can be translated as "spirit" or "mind". Shen is the energy used in mental, spiritual and creative functioning (Lu, 30). Jin uses this to spiritually increase her life essence (Jing) through the cultivation of Qi. She is striving to achieve spiritual enlightenment through spiritual means of purifying one’s spirit and chinese medicine.

Waidan (Outer Alchemy):
Waidan refers to practices relating to the process of making an elixir often containing herbal or chemical substances found outside of the body.

Treatment methods:
Acupuncture: Though acupuncture's roots lie in TCM, it is used as a western treatment for a variety of health concerns. She is able to use acupuncture needles precisely and as a offensive tool, uses them as projectiles.

Acupressure: Finger pressure is applied over acupuncture points and meridians.

Herbal medicine: Foods are thought to have warming/cooling properties and are said to have specific healing properties. This enables spiritual and conceptual healing through consumption. Herbs and herbal tea may be suggested. This is an alternative way for powders and is done through consumption in liquid form.

Moxibustion: A practice that involves burning an herb near the skin to warm the area over acupuncture points. This is an alternative way for spiritual and conceptual healing. It’s effect is quicker than consumption.

Tuina: A type of bodywork that combines massage and acupressure. Exercises such as tai chi and qi gong. Asian massage is typically administered with the person fully clothed, without the application of grease or oils. Techniques employed may include thumb presses, rubbing, percussion, and assisted stretching. She is also able to fight with the martial art Tai Chi.

Traditional Chinese Medicine herbs utilities include:
Vitality enhancement
Stamina boost
Health restoration (not life threatening wounds)
Disease and illness dispelling
Diluted perpetuity (keeps cells healthier for longer)
Immune system boost
Pain diluting
Eyesight enhancement
Sensory enhancement
etc…
She is able to craft poisonous medicines too, which may cause illness to the point of ultimately killing the consumer.

Reinforcement (Qi):
Reinforcing the purpose of existence would be increasing the sharpness of a knife, the nourishment of food, or in the case of a living creature, physical strength and durability. Jin uses this to further enhance her herbs and her acupuncture needles with Qi. This is also used for body enhancements such as physical condition and senses, which are significantly boosted through a couple of decades of training. Her magic circuits illuminate when in use.

Wuxin:
Mushin' in Japanese and 'Wuxin' in Chinese ("no mind") is a mental state. Zen and Daoist meditators are said to reach this state, as well as artists and trained martial artists. They also practice this mental state during everyday activities. At this point, a person relies not on what they think should be the next move, but what is their trained natural reaction (or instinct) or what is felt intuitively. However, mushin is not just a state of mind that can be achieved during combat. Jin has achieved this state of mind through flawless execution of moves in Tai Chi training to the point of refining the mind with the body.

Tai Chi:
As a Taoist, one learns this martial art to deepen the connection of the philosophy of Yin and Yang and also for health/self defence purposes. With her knowledge of pressure points, she is able to perform a skillful and modified Dim Mak.

Equipment: Chinese Dragon and Star Hair Tie:
The mystic code given to Jin when receiving the family crest - used as a hair tie for her one of her bangs. This totem was created as a signature symbol for the Xia family in the first generation - due to their divine outlook - and has been passed down to the next heir of the family to give distinction. It grants the user a boost that enhances their magecraft by significantly boosting the properties of their magecraft's effectiveness and strength (this only applies to magecraft that 'modifies’ something eg alchemy, reinforcement etc.). Combined with her Origin, Augmentation, it further amplifies the effects of her magecraft when in use - this also makes casting more efficient as using the same amount of mana (Qi) will give much stronger effects. It is also said to be a good luck charm, giving positive outcomes for the wearer. Dragons traditionally symbolize potent and auspicious powers, particularly control over water, rainfall, typhoons, and floods. The dragon is also a symbol of power, strength, and good luck for people who are worthy of it in East Asian culture.

Skills: Besides the things listed above, she considers herself good at fashion and making fine clothing.