Yuan Shao | Other

Name: Yuan Shao

Age: 37 (Born 153)

Appearance: Yuan Shao stands tall and has a regal and commanding appearance, befitting his noble lineage. His features include sharp gray eyes, a strong jawline and a neatly groomed mustache, reflecting his dignified demeanor. His long, silver hair is often styled elegantly, tied back in a way that highlights his aristocratic aura. His armor is usually in shades of gold and yellow, with a flowing purple cape. In combat he typically wears a helmet with a feathered helmet.

Personality: Yuan Shao is an honorable and proud man that staunchly supports the Han, though he can be arrogant and pretentious about his noble title. He is known to make passionate and inspirational speeches about justice and valor, gaining the love of the people for his impeccable image. He speaks with a flamboyant and high-and-mighty attitude, but this somewhat benefits him and his charisma makes him surprisingly popular with the people, alongside his noble name. He has issues with indecisiveness, and struggles to listen to his retainers more often than not. While the people around him acknowledge his arrogance and haughtiness as flaws, he’s still a well respected and powerful man with the capacity to lead.

Yuan Shao is old childhood friends and hunting buddies with Cao Cao, who is of a lower rank-- Yuan Shao in particular deems his friend to be of inferior rank and considers his friend to be a rude upstart. Cao Cao in turn criticizes him as a man who relies too much on his family past and is too inept to survive in the land's wars. Despite their butting heads, they are friends and do understand each other, even if they fight more often than not. Yuan Shao would genuinely feel sorrow if he and Cao Cao were to clash in battle. Yuan Shu has a younger half-brother, Yuan Shu-- who's a rather arrogant, spiteful, and overly lavish person. The two brothers really don’t get along, but begrudgingly work together when they must. Yuan Shao has three teenage sons-- Yuan Tan (brave but impulsive and violent), Yuan Xi (intelligent but weak and indecisive), and Yuan Shang (strong and handsome, but arrogant). He tends to favor Yuan Shang.

Background: Yuan Shao, born in Ruyang County, was from a prominent family with a long civil service history. His exact parentage was disputed, especially by his half-brother Yuan Shu, who claimed Yuan Shao wasn’t a "true son" due to his mother's low status. Yuan Shao, more serious and respected by talented men, was welcomed by figures like Cao Cao and Zhang Miao. Entering the civil service, Yuan Shao served as an aide to General He Jin, who trusted him. After Emperor Ling’s death in 189, He Jin and Yuan Shao planned to eliminate the eunuchs, but when He Jin ignored Yuan Shao's advice, the eunuchs ambushed and killed him. This led to a massacre and Dong Zhuo seizing control. Yuan Shao disagreed with Dong Zhuo’s plan to depose Emperor Shao and fled to Ji Province, where he was appointed Administrator of Bohai Commandery. In 190, Cao Cao approached his old friend with an offer-- Yuan Shao, who had a better name and title than Cao Cao, would lead a coalition to oust Dong Zhuo. Despite initial setbacks, the coalition, including Yuan Shao, managed to defeat Dong Zhuo’s forces, including at Yangren-- they’re continuing to push forward now towards the capital of Luoyang.