Sui's Background
Sui's father was a drunken gambler, who dragged his family through one shame after another. Sui was forced to work from a young age to help cover his debts, and put food on the table. Eventually, his father left home, following a caravan on some get-rich-quick scheme. This was the last that was seen of him. Sui, along with his Mother and siblings, had a hard life, with the stigma of an absent father and the effort to bring in enough money. After yet another beating from local bullies, Sui applied to join the Red Lotus Temple, a Martial Arts school. Soon Sui realised that this place was almost as bad as home: the masters were strict, and seemed to revel in doling out cruel punishments for the slightest of transgressions, the other students were unfriendly, the food was poor (although there always was food!), and the beds, when one was allowed to sleep, were hard and uncomfortable. For several years, Sui endured these hardships, set upon learning the Ways of The Tiger, both to take his mind off his suffering, and to ensure no-one could increase it. He learned Temperance and Integrity, along with martial skills, and worked every job available, sending what little money he could back to his family. There came a day when The Red Lotus Temple was challenged by the legendary Eagle Claw school, who were wiping out all other schools in the area. Unwilling to face the fearsome foes, Red Lotus sent Sui to represent them, knowing he would be defeated, but giving the rest of the school time to escape. While Sui did not have the skill to defeat the Eagle Claw students, his long years of hardship had given him the resilience to take more punishment than anyone thought possible. Given several chances to surrender with honour, he continued to fight, until eventually the Red Lotus students and Masters, impressed by his loyalty, attacked the Eagle Claw, and drove them off. Sui was promoted to Master, and given more respect from then on. Sui taught as he had been taught - strict, with many seemingly-pointless tasks and punishments, all designed to raise the students' resistance and stamina. He worked with the other Masters to perfect his understanding of the Tiger Style, using only his bare hands to cause grievous wounds, and strike pressure points, and before long was one of the most respected Masters in the area.
Of course, it was about now that disaster would befall him ...
The Crimson Plague spread slowly through the town, afflicting rich and poor alike. Old and young, man and woman, strong and weak, none seemed immune to its effects. By the time people realised its danger, it was too late to stop it's deadly progress. Isolated in the Red Lotus Temple, Sui and his students knew they had only one choice. With heavy hearts, they barricaded the Temple doors and shut out the sick and needy. They watched the townsfolk stagger in search of relief, and listened to their cries for succour. But Sui allowed none to enter the Temple. Three long weeks later, the town was silent. The Crimson Plague had done its work, and moved on. It was only now that Sui ordered the Temple doors opened. As the Red Lotus students moved amongst the town, clearing the bodies that had fallen in the streets, an Imperial force approached. They had heard of the Plague, and come to investigate. Seeing only (non-Immaculate) monks, they assumed the worst, and demanded to know the "Truth", not the "Lies" that they heard Sui tell. They were not interested in his explanations, his sorrow, his regret. Sui had left the town to die, and must hang for his "crime"...
There are no tales of how that day ended. The Imperial force never made its report, the Red Lotus do not talk of it, and there were no other witnesses. It was on this day that Lao Pei made himself known to Sui. Appearing as a large white Tiger, he professes to be a Celestial Immortal, and helped Sui to escape with his life. No-one else knows of this mysterious creature, and he talks little of himself, preferring to lecture Sui on the finer points of how to run a Temple/School. This was also the day that SOL spoke to Sui. Exhausted and confused by the morning's events, still struggling to come to terms with The Crimson Plague, Imperial Warrants and a visit from a Celestial immortal, he lay staring into the sky, hoping for some explanation, something to bring Order back into his life. And that was when he heard The Voice of SOL.
The younger students ask of the History of the Temple, and why it moved to Soba. They ask why Sui talks not of his past. Did he have a family, a wife? What is it he has lost? And why must we learn in secrecy? Are we not Red Lotus? Why must we not name ourselves such? The Masters reward them with more work, and painful tasks. The older students occasionally let slip a rumour about The Crimson Plague, and the Fateful Events of that time. But none will answer in full.
And so, it is as head of The Crashing Fountain Martial Arts Academy that Sui leads his Children Of The Light Of The Sun, passing on what little he can about The Glorious Light Of The Sun, and how one day it will be revealed for all to see. But for now, they must wait.
