ALT SCENARIO: Lu Bu | Other

Name: Lu Bu

Age: 36 (Born 160)

Appearance: Lu Bu is an extremely massive (6’10”) man with a large frame and copious amounts of muscle. He has long dark hair pulled into a high ponytail, and dark, menacing eyes. His facial features are sharp and fierce, with a near-permanent scowl. Lu Bu is typically seen heavily armored in gold and black, with his signature two-feathered red pheasant headdress.

Personality: Lu Bu is an extremely aggressive, brutish, and bloodthirsty warrior who fights for the sole purpose of finding an opponent capable of providing him with a challenge. He believes himself to be the "Mightiest Man Alive" and believes that the only true justice in the world is not found in any court, but when one fights for one's life on the battlefield, where the strong survive and the weak are crushed. More of a man of action than talk, he disregards strategy and politics as a waste of his time, much to the chagrin of his allies.

In spite of his repeated betrayals, Lu Bu is brutally honest and has little faith in or respect for politicians, bureaucrats, or any cowards who use deceit to gain power. For this same reason, Lu Bu despises sycophants and suck-ups and resented being Dong Zhuo's lackey. Lu Bu also acknowledges strength in other aspects, even in concepts that don't regard battle. Lu Bu wields a large halberd in battle. His horse is the legendary Red Hare-- a large horse with incredible speed, given as a gift by Dong Zhuo.

Lu Bu considered Dong Zhuo an arrogant pig and a repulsive coward who was undeserving of his wealth and status, and only joined him because of the opportunity to fight all the enemies that Dong Zhuo makes. His hatred is further inflamed when Diaochan advises him to kill his benefactor. The closest thing he has to a friend is Zhang Liao; he treats him with more respect than the other soldiers in his army and has barely berated him for any of his actions in the open, even when Zhang Liao once insisted on joining Lu Bu in a battle that he wanted to fight alone.

When dealing with his strategist, Lu Bu shows considerable amounts of trust in him during actual battle; but Lu Bu has very little regard for Chen Gong's battle tactics and rushes in, often forcing the strategist to make concessions and coercions just to make the general follow.

If Lu Bu has any weakness, it's his often absentminded devotion for the women he loves. Diaochan is everything to him and he is always willing to do whatever she wants; he rarely suspects or accuses her of any sort of deception even when she admits it. He frequently worries about her getting hurt on the battlefield. Should his lover come to any harm, he instantly flies into a rage and becomes almost unstoppable. He displays this same protectiveness towards his daughter Lu Lingqi, as he states that since he himself knows nothing but the concepts of war, he wants his daughter to not blindly follow his path. Lu Bu is against Lu Lingqi entering battle, but cannot speak against her insistence to continue joining him regardless. Though he never admits it openly, Lu Bu also puts his daughter above himself, especially in scenarios regarding her marriage and safety.

Background: Lü Bu was born in Jiuyuan County and was renowned for his exceptional martial prowess. His early years were shaped by his service under Ding Yuan, a Cavalry Commandant appointed by the Han central government to garrison at Henei Commandery. Ding Yuan treated Lü Bu with great kindness, fostering a bond that would later be broken under dire circumstances.

The death of Emperor Ling in 189 set off a chain of events that plunged China into chaos. Ding Yuan, a loyal servant of the Han Dynasty, led his troops to Luoyang to aid He Jin in eliminating the eunuch faction. However, He Jin was assassinated by the eunuchs, and Dong Zhuo seized the opportunity to take control of the capital. Seeking to eliminate Ding Yuan and gain command over his forces, Dong Zhuo managed to convince Lü Bu to betray his former benefactor. Lü Bu killed Ding Yuan, severed his head, and presented it to Dong Zhuo, who welcomed him into his fold as a trusted officer and foster son.

Lü Bu’s role as a loyal servant of Dong Zhuo was cemented during the power struggles of the time. In 190, when Cao Cao attempted to assassinate Dong Zhuo, Lü Bu discovered the plot and alerted his foster father, forcing Cao Cao to flee. Meanwhile, a coalition led by Yuan Shao rose against Dong Zhuo’s tyrannical reign. Lü Bu was ordered to defend Dong Zhuo in several battles, including a significant confrontation with Sun Jian's forces. However, Lü Bu’s poor coordination with his fellow general, Hu Zhen, led to chaos in their ranks, allowing Sun Jian to exploit the disorder and force them into retreat.

Despite Dong Zhuo’s attempts to defend his rule, the coalition grew stronger and eventually laid siege to Luoyang. After being defeated in battle, Dong Zhuo retreated to Chang'an, burning Luoyang and forcing its citizens to relocate. However, the coalition forces failed to press the advantage, and the alliance soon dissolved.

Lü Bu’s fate took another turn when he became entangled in a secret affair with Diaochan, the daughter of the influential official Wang Yun. Diaochan, who had been manipulated by her father, played a pivotal role in convincing Lü Bu to kill Dong Zhuo, which fractured Dong Zhuo's control and splintered his power. Lü Bu’s actions marked the beginning of his wandering and constant betrayal. He switched allegiances multiple times, serving Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao before finally seizing Xu Province from Liu Bei, despite initially receiving kindness from Liu Bei.