Pang Tong | Shu

Name: Pang Tong

Age: 32 (Born in 179 AD)

Appearance: Pang Tong’s appearance is actually a mystery. He’s a short man at 5’3”, but otherwise prefers to conceal himself in long robes, hats, and a cloth mask over his face, revealing only his sharp dark eyes. Some say he’s an ugly man with dark skin and odd facial features, others say he’s merely plain-looking, and others claim he’s just a normal-looking man that likes to mystify others by concealing himself. He never takes off his mask and layers, even on informal occasions. The most anyone ever sees of him is his hands and eyes.

Personality: Nihilistic, vain, and sometimes smarmy, Pang Tong is someone who spares sweet talk and stays focused on the heart of the matter. While he seeks practical solutions that grant the best results, his blunt statements may sometimes make him unpopular with others. Even so, his heart is in the right place and he is a bit playful; with each little insult that he may let slip, Pang Tong mends it with well-meaning advice as well as being more openly casual with others. While he may not always show it, he is just as loyal to his liege as any other member within Liu Bei's army. He speaks in a particularly sleazy and loose tone with an archaic dialect, and tends to come off as a bit off-putting and eccentric. He prefers to laze around and study versus fighting on the battlefield, but he’s a decent fighter with his shadow fan, able to harness wind and unusual, unpredictable movements to get a hand over his opponents. He’s fond of drinking and banquets, though will chide anyone who’s having a little too much fun.

He is good friends with Zhuge Liang and is one of the few in Shu who can talk as his intellectual equal, as well as being his loose-mouthed and less-cryptic foil to Zhuge Liang's more quiet and poker-faced nature. He sympathizes with Wei Yan and encourages his companion to stay true to his beliefs, which is also something he does differently compared to Zhuge Liang (as he doesn't often trust Wei Yan) while also telling Xu Shu directly to be more confident with himself. He’s good companions with his fellow strategist Jian Yong, who shares his same casual demeanor and playful nature, despite Jian Yong being significantly older.

Background: Pang Tong, from Xiangyang Commandery, was initially overlooked due to his plain appearance. However, after visiting the hermit scholar Sima Hui at age 19, he earned recognition for his wisdom, earning the nickname "Fledgling Phoenix" among scholars. Pang Tong later served as Officer of Merit in Nan Commandery, known for his sociable nature, mentorship, and focus on personal virtues in assessing others.

In 208, while living in seclusion, Pang Tong reunited with his old friend Zhuge Liang, who had joined Liu Bei's cause. Pang Tong contributed to the victory at the Battle of Chibi by advising the Wei forces to chain their ships together, setting up a successful fire attack. After Cao Cao's defeat, Pang Tong joined Zhuge Liang in capturing southern cities and later helped Liu Bei plan a campaign to capture Liu Zhang's territory in 210.