Characters

As they appear in this, the first volume of

Legends of the Condor Heroes : A Hero Born

MAIN CHARACTERS

Guo Jing , son of Skyfury Guo and Lily Li. After his father's death before he was born, he grows up with his mother in Mongolia, where they are looked after by the future Genghis Khan.

Yang Kang , son of Ironheart Yang and Charity Bao, sworn as brother to Guo Jing while both are still in their mother's bellies.

Lotus Huang is highly skilled in kung fu, but she refuses to reveal the identity of her Master when challenged.

THE SONG PATRIOTS

Ironheart Yang , descendent of Triumph Yang, one-time rebel turned patriot who served under General Yue Fei. Ironheart practises the Yang Family Spear, a technique passed from father to son.

Married to Charity Bao , daughter of a country scholar from Red Plum Village.

Skyfury Guo , sworn brother to Ironheart Yang, he is descended from Prosperity Guo, one of the heroes of the Marshes of Mount Liang. Skyfury fights with the double halberd, in keeping with the Guo family tradition.

Married to Lily Li , Guo Jing's mother. She escapes the attack on Ox Village and ends up in Mongolia with Guo Jing.

Qu San , owner of Ox Village's only tavern, he keeps his kung fu skills secret from the rest of the villagers.

Mu Yi , travels all across Song- and Jin-controlled lands with his daughter Mercy Mu , organising a martial contest in order to find her a suitable husband.

SONG IMPERIAL TRAITORS

Justice Duan , an army officer to the Song who, in actual fact, works for the Jin.

Wang Daoqian , a military official in the Song court, he is killed by Qiu Chuji for accepting bribes by the Jin.

THE FIVE GREATS

Considered the five greatest martial artists after a contest was held on Mount Hua. Only two are mentioned in this first book in the series:

The Eastern Heretic Apothecary Huang , a loner and radical who practises his unorthodox martial arts on Peach Blossom Island along with his wife and six students. He holds traditions and their accompanying morals in contempt and believes only in true love and honour. His eccentricity and heretical views make others suspicious of him, an image he himself cultivates.

Double Sun Wang Chongyang , founder of the Quanzhen Sect in the Zhongnan Mountains, with the aim of training Taoists in the martial arts so that they might defend the Song against the Jurchen invasion. A real historical figure, he lived from A.D. 1113 to 1170.

THE QUANZHEN TAOIST SECT

A real branch of Taoism, whose name means "Way of Complete Perfection".

The Seven Immortals, students of Wang Chongyang

Only three of the Immortals make their appearance in this first book of the series:

Scarlet Sun Ma Yu , the oldest of the Immortals, teaches internal kung fu based on breathing techniques.

Eternal Spring Qiu Chuji , befriends Ironheart Yang and Skyfury Guo at the beginning of the series and vows to protect their unborn offspring. To this end, he devises a martial contest with the Seven Freaks of the South. He becomes teacher to Yang Kang.

Jade Sun Wang Chuyi , the Iron Foot Immortal, befriends Guo Jing after hearing of Qiu Chuji's contest with the Seven Freaks of the South.

Harmony Yin , apprentice to Qiu Chuji.

THE SEVEN FREAKS OF THE SOUTH

Also known as the Seven Heroes of the South when being addressed respectfully by other characters. They refer to themselves as a martial family, despite being of no blood relation.

Ke Zhen'e, Suppressor of Evil , also known as Flying Bat . The oldest of the Freaks, he is often referred to as Eldest Brother. Blinded in a fight, his preferred weapon is his flying devilnuts, iron projectiles made in the shape of a kind of water chesnut native to China.

Quick Hands Zhu Cong the Intelligent is known for his quick thinking and even quicker sleight of hand. His dirty scholar's dress and broken oil-paper fan, really made from iron, belie his real martial skill. He is particularly knowledgeable in acupressure points, using them to disable his opponents in a fight. At times, he might also use his skills to steal gold and other items, but only from those he thinks dishonourable and thus deserving of such trickery.

Ryder Han, Protector of the Steeds , only three foot in height but a formidable fighter when sitting astride a horse.

Woodcutter Nan the Merciful , known for his kind, if not shy, nature, teaches Guo Jing sabre technique. He fights with an iron-tipped shoulder pole.

Zhang Asheng , also known as the Laughing Buddha , is a burly man dressed as a butcher, whose preferred weapon is a pair of scales. He is secretly in love with Jade Han.

Gilden Quan the Prosperous, Cloaked Master of the Market , is a master of the rules of the marketplace and always looking for a good deal. He fights with the use of a spear.

Jade Han, Maiden of the Yue Sword , is the youngest and only female of the group. She is trained in the Yue Sword, a technique particular to the region surrounding Jiaxing and developed when the Kingdom of Yue was at war with the Kingdom of Wu in the fifth century B.C .

THE MONGOLIANS

The Great Khan Temujin , one of the great warlords who will go on to unite the various Mongolian tribes and assume the name Genghis Khan.

Temujin's children:

Jochi , Temujin's eldest son.

Chagatai , the second son.

Ogedai , the third son.

Tolui , the fourth son, and Guo Jing's sworn brother.

Khojin , one of many daughters whose names are mostly lost to history. Temujin betroths her first to Tusakha, son of his rival Senggum, and then to Guo Jing.

Temujin's allies and followers:

Jamuka , Temujin's sworn brother and ally.

Jebe , whose name means "arrow" and "Divine Archer" in Mongolian, is made a commander of Temujin's men after demonstrating his great skill with a bow and arrow, and showing himself to be a loyal fighter of considerable principle.

Temujin's Four Great Generals:

Muqali , Bogurchi , Boroqul and Tchila'un .

Temujin's rivals:

Ong Khan , sworn brother of Temujin's father.

Senggum , son of Ong Khan.

Tusakha , son of Senggum, is only a few years older than Guo Jing and bullies him and Tolui when they are young.

THE JIN EMPIRE

Wanyan Honglie, Sixth Prince , titled Prince of Zhao , has made conquering the Song his own personal mission, in order to secure his reputation and legacy among his own people. He is an astute tactician, using rivalries and jealousies within the Song court and the wulin to his own advantage.

Wanyan Hongxi, Third Prince , lacks his younger brother's political sense, especially when dealing with the Mongols.

Wanyan Kang , son of the Sixth Prince Wanyan Honglie, is arrogant and entitled, but possesses considerable martial skill. He fights Guo Jing after refusing to marry Mercy Mu.

Consort to the Sixth Prince, mother of Wanyan Kang.

FOLLOWERS OF THE SIXTH PRINCE WANYAN HONGLIE

Gallant Ouyang, Master of White Camel Mount in the Kunlun Range, nephew to one of the Five Greats, Viper Ouyang, Venom of the West.

The Dragon King Hector Sha controls the Yellow River with his four rather more useless apprentices, whose lack of skill infuriates their Master, despite the fact that it is most likely his foul temper that has prevented them from learning anything more than their rather basic moves.

The Four Daemons of the Yellow River

Shen Qinggang the Strong , whose weapon is a sabre called the Spirit Cleaver.

Wu Qinglie the Bold fights with a spear called the Dispatcher.

Ma Qingxiong the Valiant is known for his Soul Snatcher whip.

Qian Qingjian the Hardy is armed with a pair of axes known as the Great Reapers.

Browbeater Hou, the Three-Horned Dragon , so named for the three cysts on his forehead.

Greybeard Liang , also known as Old Liang , the Ginseng Immortal and, more disparagingly, the Ginseng Codger . He comes from the Mountain of Eternal Snow (Changbai Mountain) up in the northeast, close to the current border with Korea, where he has practised kung fu for many years as a hermit, as well as mixing special medicinal concotions with the aim of prolonging life and gaining strength.

Lama Supreme Wisdom Lobsang Choden Rinpoche , from Kokonor, now known as Qinghai. He is famed for his Five Finger Blade kung fu.

Tiger Peng the Outlaw, Butcher of a Thousand Hands , has command of much of the mountainous region surrounding the Jin capital Yanjing, which would later become Peking.

PEACH BLOSSOM ISLAND

Twice Foul Dark Wind were apprentices of Apothecary Huang, who fled Peach Blossom Island and eloped after stealing the Nine Yin Manual. Husband Hurricane Chen , known as Copper Corpse, and wife Cyclone Mei , known as Iron Corpse, are masters of Nine Yin Skeleton Claw. They killed Ke Zhen'e's brother, Ke Bixie the Talisman.

THE IMMORTAL CLOUD SECT

Abbot Withered Wood , of Cloudy Perch Temple, is uncle to Justice Duan. He hates his treacherous nephew, but is tricked into enlisting the help of Scorched Wood and the Seven Freaks of the South to fight against Qiu Chuji.

Reverend Scorched Wood , of Fahua Temple, is a fellow disciple of Withered Wood's martial Master.