<br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 36pt;"><strong>Xiaoli Kou</strong></span><br/>(https://www.cgwallpapers.com/img_script/wallpaper_dir/img.php?src=wallpaper_chin_likhui_03_3440x1440.jpg&amp;height=506)</div><br/>The Blue Orchid. Low caste warriors 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.<br/><br/>Gardeners.<br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>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, though many consider her prudish and easily embarrassed. It is hard to imagine her as a woman who has studied at great length the art of murder.<br/><br/>Originally the third child of a merchant family, her father would travel to distant lands and return with rare herbs. 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. The Lefou Tragedy saw many of the village die from illness. A horrific plague snuffed out the lives of 3 out of 4 children...<br/><br/>Even the potions of the Kou family were slow to push back the sickness. Even with the expensive herbs, many still died. Xiaoli watched silently as her mother mixed the herbs. She knew the weight and amounts, even as a child, and Xiaoli argued with her mother, “You are using too much water...” Her mother insisted that the measurements were sufficient and scolded her. When sickness came to the Kou household, Xiaoli’s older sister was the first to grow ill. She watched silently as her mother went to a special case for an older batch of the remedy.<br/><br/>Once the sickness came to a home, it often made the rounds. And so as her parents fell ill, they too went to the special case and drank from the potions within.<br/><br/>They were dead within a week.<br/><br/>Though the authorities did not pursue the matter, the Blue Orchid was quick to extend an invitation to her. They knew her parents had been diluting the herbs to increase their profits during the plague... and one of their members had watched from the rafters as Xiaoli switched the old potions for the new batch. To this day, she insists, “I did not kill them. If the remedy had worked as she promised me it would, they would still draw breath. Nurture the Virtuous. Cull the Wicked.”<br/><br/>Some question the holy order and their methods. There is another proverb amongst 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 Falchion nightly in case her words fail her.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Character Sheet</div><div class="spoiler_body"><br/>Xiaoli Kou - Human Paladin lv3<br/><br/>ECL: 3<br/>Alignment: Lawful Good<br/>Size: Medium<br/>Gender: Female<br/>Land Speed: 20 ft. / round (red.)<br/><br/>HP: 39<br/>XP: 0<br/><br/>STR: 18 (+4)<br/>DEX: 12 (+1)<br/>CON: 14 (+2)<br/>INT: 10 (+0)<br/>WIS:  8 (-1)<br/>CHA: 16 (+3)<br/><br/>Fortitude: +9<br/>Reflex   : +6<br/>Will     : +6<br/><br/>AC Normal     : 20<br/>AC Touch      : 11<br/>AC Flat-Footed: 19<br/>Armor : Full Plate Armor (AC +9, max dex +1, pen. -6, 50 lb.)<br/>Shield: -<br/><br/>BAB: +3<br/>Initiative: 1<br/>CMB: +7<br/>CMD: 18<br/><br/>-- Attacks --<br/>* Falchion (+9, 2d4+6, 18-20/x2)<br/><br/>-- Items in Backpack --<br/>* Falchion (x1, 8 lb.) (Masterwork)<br/>* Full Plate Armor (x1, 50 lb.)<br/>* Sleeves of Many Garments (x1, 1 lb.)<br/>* Cloak of Resistance (+1) (x1, 1 lb.)<br/>* Bedroll (x1, 5 lb.)<br/>* Paladin Kit<br/><br/>-- Money --<br/>0 pp, 0 gp, 0 sp, 0 cp<br/><br/>-- Magic Items Worn --<br/>Shoulders: Cloak of Resistance (+1)<br/>Wrists   : Sleeves of Many Garments<br/><br/>-- Skills --<br/>Acrobatics           : -5 = 0 + +1 + -6<br/>Appraise             : +0 = 0 + +0 + +0<br/>Bluff                : +3 = 0 + +3 + +0<br/>Climb                : -2 = 0 + +4 + -6<br/>Craft*               : +0 =   + +0 + +0<br/>Diplomacy*           : +8 = 2 + +3 + +3<br/>Disable Device       : -5 = 0 + +1 + -6<br/>Disguise             : +3 = 0 + +3 + +0<br/>Escape Artist        : -5 = 0 + +1 + -6<br/>Fly                  : -5 = 0 + +1 + -6<br/>Handle Animal*       : +3 = 0 + +3 + +0<br/>Heal*                : +5 = 3 + -1 + +3<br/>Intimidate           : +3 = 0 + +3 + +0<br/>Knowledge            : +0 =   + +0 + +0<br/>Knowledge (religion)*: +5 = 2 + +0 + +3<br/>Linguistics          : +0 = 0 + +0 + +0<br/>Perception           : -1 = 0 + -1 + +0<br/>Perform              : +3 =   + +3 + +0<br/>Profession*          : -1 =   + -1 + +0<br/>Ride*                : -5 = 0 + +1 + -6<br/>Sense Motive*        : +3 = 1 + -1 + +3<br/>Sleight of Hand      : -5 = 0 + +1 + -6<br/>Spellcraft*          : +4 = 1 + +0 + +3<br/>Stealth              : -5 = 0 + +1 + -6<br/>Survival             : -1 = 0 + -1 + +0<br/>Swim                 : -2 = 0 + +4 + -6<br/>Use Magic Device     : +3 = 0 + +3 + +0<br/>[total mod = ranks + ability + misc.]<br/><br/>-- Class Features / Racial Traits --<br/>* Aura of Courage (Su)<br/>* Aura of Good (Ex)<br/>* Bonus Feat (Weapon Focus (Falchion))<br/>* Detect Evil (Sp)<br/>* Divine Grace (Su)<br/>* Divine Health (Ex)<br/>* Languages<br/>* Lay On Hands (Su)<br/>* Martial Weapon Proficiency (all)<br/>* Mercy (Shaken) (Su)<br/>* Skilled<br/>* Smite Evil 1/day (Su)<br/><br/>Additional Traits:<br/>Magical Knack (Magic)<br/>Seeker (Social)<br/><br/>-- Feats --<br/>* Armor Proficiency, Heavy<br/>* Armor Proficiency, Light<br/>* Armor Proficiency, Medium<br/>* Cleave<br/>* Power Attack<br/>* Shield Proficiency<br/>* Simple Weapon Proficiency<br/>* Weapon Focus (Falchion)<br/><br/>-- Languages --<br/>Common<br/></div></div>