The travelling healer and the daring outlaw
Hua Tuo is a practitioner of medical properties and sciences of great patience and care who's experiments with early anaesthesia pioneer a new age of healing in China. Carrying a near-countless range herbs and oils on his person and writing on the go, he's a walking hospital in himself which nearly every warlord in the land wants solely on their side. Having been born in Pei, Hua Tuo begins work at Cao Cao's homestead, working with Bian Yuexiang and Wei Zi to collect his findings and help the less fortunate. As Cao Cao's influence grows, he remains Hua Tuo's patron but Hua Tuo himself becomes conflicted about aiding a man whose ambitions are in danger of growing out of control.
Zang Ba is fast becoming a legend throughout the mainland. Having broken his own father out of prison, Zang Ba assembles a band of renegades to rob from the rich and give to the poor, overthrowing corrupt officials and secretly aiding the interests of men they consider good and true. Settling in Xu Province, he initially makes an enemy of the invading Cao Cao. However, as quickly as they become enemies, Zang Ba agrees to aid Cao Cao's imperilled family when they're held prisoner and the ambitious but gallant warlord will come to owe Zang Ba a great deal.
2. All three of these men come to hold high positions in the court of Emperor Xian of Han.
Yang Biao of the distinguished Hongnong Yang clan is one of the few fundamentally loyal and dedicated ministers left in the chaos of the Han court after Dong Zhuo's takeover and the fall of Chang'an.
Dong Cheng, in stark contrast, is the last of the Dong clan, the clan of Emperor Ling's mother, and will part with what power that grants him over his dead body...or anyone else's. Violent, foul-tempered, suspicious and greedy, he is truly a picture of how far the Han have fallen after years of weak and unsuspecting Emperors.
Zhao Nan, the oddball of the court, is the head of a secret society of esoteric practices, boasting the powers of soothsaying and prognostication, foreseeing a future for the young Emperor if his advice is heeded. Behind all the glamour and tricks, however, he's an avaricious confidence-trickster whose associates create any futures he predicts.
What do all these men have in common?
They're all in Cao Cao's way.
Hua Tuo I've already illustrated in the Mystics Group Page but for Zang Ba, I wanted to make him stand out from the average noble-hearted bandit so I gave him a full-on Robin Hood/Zorro vibe. He flies in via handy rope whenever he's needed and speaks in third-person. He's a lot of fun.
The three Han Ministers I had fun designing.
Yang Biao's beard I tried to model off the busts of Ancient Greek philosophers, sort of referencing his sagely but highly rigid conduct.
Dong Cheng I hope I'm not making too similar to Dou Wu even if they occupy similar roles.
Zhao Nan, I just all out with. In the Romance he's called Zhao Yan but there are at least two other Zhao Yan's so I changed the name slightly. In case you're wondering, his nose doesn't grow longer with each lie but it is meant to highlight his untrustworthy nature. The green beads between his fingers are meant to spell out 'Joy - Younger Son - Heaven', signifying a good future for Emperor Xian, the younger son of the previous Emperor.
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