Sun Jian | Wu

Name: Sun Jian

Age: 35 (Born 155 AD)

Appearance: Sun Jian is a tall, broad shouldered man standing at 6’0 with a strong build and physique. He has silvery-white hair, usually messily slicked back, and neatly trimmed stubble. Befitting his title as the Tiger of Jiangdong, he can often be seen wearing tiger furs that he’s hunted himself alongside his red and gold armor. In combat, he wears a golden helmet, though takes it off for more informal occasions.

Personality: Sun Jian is a calm man, always considerate and courteous to his men, who acts most like a gentleman. He is generally kind to those around him and forgives past mistakes with subtle ease. He doubles as a fierce and courageous warrior. Since he is praised as a tiger of his homeland, he proudly refers to himself by his nickname as the “Tiger of Jiangdong” on several occasions - his children also share his pride during their respective conquests. In spite of his impeccable service to the Han and his bravery in battle, other regional lords usually do not think too highly of Sun Jian and ridicule him as a "country bumpkin"; this is predominantly done by Yuan Shu. He is fiercely loyal to the Han Dynasty, even going so far as to call himself the "Blade of the Imperial Han".

A caring father, he is proud of his children and tries his best to look out for them. He acts as a strong mentor figure for them and points out their respective strengths and weaknesses, and he is also willing to sacrifice himself for their well-being. His oldest son Sun Ce, much like his father, is his fiery and passionate pride and joy. He appreciates the calmer nature of his second son, Sun Quan. He finds Sun Shangxiang’s chaotic and tomboyish nature to be a source of joy, and enjoys training her in the various martial arts.

His weapon of choice is a nine-ringed broadsword.

Background: Sun Jian, born in Fuchun County and allegedly a descendant of Sun Tzu, gained fame at 16 when he single-handedly defeated a group of pirates by pretending to command a military detachment. In 172, he joined the pro-government militias to quell Xu Chang's rebellion, later earning a post as assistant magistrate and gathering followers.

During the Yellow Turban Rebellion in 184, Sun Jian fought alongside Zhu Jun, defeating rebels at Wan. In 190, when Dong Zhuo seized control of the capital, Sun Jian joined the coalition against him, aligning with Yuan Shu. On the way to Luyang, Sun Jian's troops impressed Dong Zhuo’s forces, causing them to retreat. Sun Jian later broke through an encirclement with only a few dozen horsemen, tricking the enemy by leaving behind a red scarf as a decoy.

After winning a battle at Yangren and killing Hua Xiong, Sun Jian’s victory raised concerns for Yuan Shu, who stopped supplying his army. In response, Sun Jian rode overnight to Luyang to confront Yuan Shu, shaming him into resuming the supplies. Sun Jian then rejected Dong Zhuo's peace and marriage proposals and continued marching towards Luoyang. When Dong Zhuo retreated to Chang'an, Sun Jian entered Luoyang's ruins, resealed the Han emperors' tombs, and discovered one of the emperor's jade seals, which he kept.