Complexity: 3

Summary & Strategy: 

TBD

Bio

An ancient long dragon, Xuanji has spent centuries observing the trials and tribulations of mortal humankind. In the earliest days, her true form prevailed: venerated by mortals, she would aid in cultivation among changing seasons, bring forth rain to nourish crops, and bear a thunderous might to help defend humans from the many spirits and entities slipping into the mortal realm from the world beyond.

But generation by generation, traditions gradually and naturally evolved; there came a time for Xuanji's past to drift into folklore, and for a more suitable, subtler form. Yulan was 'born', though she has carried countless names as she drifted between cultures and regions over the ages. Nevertheless, when the modern era of the 11th century arrived, she was ready...

...as well as the modern eras of the 12th, the 13th, the 14th, the 15th, the 16th, the 17th, the 18th, the 19th, the 20th and 21st centuries to follow.

Humankind continued to shift, and each successive generation's cultures, beliefs, accomplishments and conflicts changed with them. But while a regard for folklore and ancient traditions may have faded, the otherworldly threats to mortal man among them did not.

A boundary separated the realms of Mortal Earth from what lay across the threshold to worlds beyond. Yokai, yaoguai, cryptids, curses - different lenses across cultures for shared threads of the supernatural, otherworldly, spirited or 'monstrous' entities of beings dwelled beyond that threshold - but where ley energies lay and the barriers are at their thinners, such beings came and went.

Yulan's fondness for humans remained stalwart across the centuries, and she coordinated with other like-minded beings of myth and folklore, in order to watch over the inhabitants of mortal Earth. While each entity and organization safeguarded different regions of the world, she established the Wardens of the Peak.

Of the Wardens, her earliest recruits were a pair of fox spirit siblings, who were at times impetuous youths at only a few centuries of experience (and still are at times, in her opinion.) They were not without support - an order of mortals helped in cultivation and duty, despite their comparatively short and fragile lives.

One must always adapt as surely as one must find balance in their lives, however, and Yulan ensured she remained current with the cunning creations, innovations, and institutions of mortal humans over the ages. This included shrewd investments: where mortal support of the wardens had once been mostly monks and shrine attendants, now many candidly served among boardrooms, banks, and civil servants.

When otherworldly invaders shed the veil for mortal humankind, secrecy no longer ruled the world stage. Phenomenal and terrible beings seek to sow chaos and discord as 'metahumans' and others have stepped forth from the shadows, signalling that it was time, at long last, for Yulan to reveal her true form again.

Someday, Yulan will finally be confident enough in the fate of humans to retire. Until then, she still favors living among mortal humans in the guise of their form - partly from having grown so accustomed to it over the centuries of secrecy, but also out of an appreciation for the advantages of dexterous digits with electronic devices. Through such marvelously clever creations, Yulan enjoyed a gateway to a vast sea of online information and knowledge (especially recipe websites.)

Today, Yulan operates as a teacher, strategist, financier and more for the Wardens of the Peak; try as she may to pass on official leadership of the group, she remains the one everyone turns to for guidance, from the Wardens themselves to the moderation team of /r/tea.

[NOTE: Do not press Yulan on her true age.]

Sauteed Mountain Yam

A simple but satisfying dish that can be prepared in a very short time (about 10 minutes.) Once sauteed, it has a nice crunchiness.

Ingredients:

• 300-350g mountain yam
• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• pepper
• chives cut into short pieces (may also substitute finely chopped green onion)

Instructions:

1) Peel the mountain yam and cut into 1 cm slices. (Yam may be slippery, gloves or kitchen paper will help if you do not have claws.)

2) Preheat a large pan over medium heat to melt butter (or vegan butter, if you are using that.)

3) Fry slices of yam for 2-4 minutes per side until lightly browned.

4) Sprinkle pepper to taste

5) Drizzle soy sauce and flip slices for a thorough coating

6) Serve on plate

Excellent if optionally included in stir fry - ginger, cumin, scallions and/or broccoli with a savory sauce, or combined with beef.

Referenced from this recipe!

Created by: Gaist