Wheel Of Life

Character Information

Name - Dian Wei

Position - Prisoner

Age - 30

Relationship Status - Neutral

Level - 4

Additional Information - In a past life, Dian Wei was the commander of the body guards of general Cao Cao during the end of the eastern Han period of China. He was known to sleep behind his commanders tent to make sure he was always protected. He died protecting Cao Cao's retreat during in ambush at a banquet.

Skills - Bodyguard, Dual Heavy Weapon Expert, Super Strength, Loyalist.

Potential - 4 stars

More information upon level up.

Mark looked at the slump figure of Dian Wei, who was strapped unconscious to the brace in the centre of the room. His body covered with many cuts and bruises, dried blood surrounded the many cuts.

"He's in a bad way." Gan Ning said. "Looks to have been tortured pretty bad."

"Any idea why he is like that?" Mark questioned, looking around the room at all the different bloodied tools and equipment.

"No idea." Gan Ning replied, "But I have noticed some messed up things around here, those bandits were beyond cruel."

"Cut him down and tend to his wounds." Mark ordered Gan Ning, before turning away and leaving the room. His thoughts in haywire at the state of Dian Wei's body, was this a similar state he had put Little John through? Guilt started to hit him.

He headed back down the corridor and peaked in to some of the other rooms of this house. There was a sleeping quarters, the room showing the obvious rush the participants had been in to join the chaos outside. There was also another room similar to the one Dian Wei was in, the corpse of a woman was sprawled across the floor. Several dagger wounds across her back.

Mark shook his head as he left the building, he would help make this kingdom a better place, one step at a time.

He stood on the doorstep and looked out towards the fire pit where the Bandits sat, tied up and surrounded by some of his troops. He had originally planned to recruit the survivors in to his forces, but he was now unsure. The way the prisoners had been treated worried him, he wanted his forces to be elite and honourable.

Eduardo was stood nearby and noticed Mark who was deep in thought, he walked over and placed his arm on Mark's shoulder.

"We did well!" Eduardo admitted. "No casualties and a good horde of loot."

"We did." Mark replied solemnly.

"What's up Boss?" Eduardo asked. "First battle blues? We had a great victory, morale is high!"

"I just don't know what to do with them." Mark replied, pointing at the Bandits.

"Recruit the good ones, I would say ransom the rest, but we don't want people to know about this. We could use them as labour for now?" Eduardo replied. "We could just kill them."

"I don't want to be a tyrant." Mark exhaled, "But some of the things they have done. How would I even choose which are the good recruits?"

"Let them fight to the death, the winners will be worthy?" Eduardo replied.

"Ok, that solves the recruitment, but I can't have rapists and murderers join!"

"Ask one of the prisoners who are the rapists and murderers?" Eduardo offered, his hands held out at his sides.

"Get me the woman from the cage, Sakura knows the one." Mark replied, nodding his head in agreement. Eduardo was quick and coming up with options.

Eduardo nodded in response and headed towards the warehouse. Passing Boudica who was leaving it at the same time. They exchanged a look before continuing on their way.

Boudica approached Mark and smiled at him. Her armour covered in dry blood from the earlier battle, her bastard sword at her waist.

"I've been with Sakura, the prisoners are eating well and seem to feeling more secure, wary, but secure." She explained. "Leif has been doing a good job talking to them. I do think some may be beyond saving however."

"Let's get them back home and give them a refuge for now." Mark replied.

Suddenly Gan Ning ran out from the house. His jingling bells announcing his arrival.

"Boss, Boss!" He shouted, "He's woke up and is asking for our leader."

Mark looked at him, a smile creeping up his face. Hopefully he could get some useful information from the awoken Dian Wei.

He headed towards the building, Boudica in tow. They sped down the corridor, past the other rooms Mark had noticed earlier. Boudica wasn't aware of where they were heading, but was keen to be involved.

They entered the room to see Dian Wei sat on the floor, Belle was by his side, crouched and tending to his wounds. She washed a cut that was still open to clean out the dirt.

"You need to wash these." She explained seriously. "Otherwise they will go bad and you could die."

"Ahh, these won't kill me." Dian Wei replied hoarsly. "This is childs play."

Gan Ning was also in the room, stood by the door waiting for Mark and Boudica. Mark was impressed by Belle's attitude and remembered that from her past life as an Outlaw she had housed and helped many other Outlaws who were on the run, and most likely injured.

Belle smiled in response to Dian Wei.

"That may be so, but you still need to keep these cleaned, we'll take you back later and you need to rest!" She replied.

Dian Wei looked up and noticed the arrival of Boudica and Mark. He looked towards Gan Ning.

"Which is the boss?" Dian Wei asked. "The scary lady or the confused looking man?"

"The confused looking man." Gan Ning laughed in response. A grin also appearing on the rough looking Dian Wei's face.

"Thanks for the rescue." Dian Wei said honestly.

"You are very welcome." Mark replied, "I heard you wanted to speak with me."

"I was once a bandit like them, but then I joined a local town guard, became head of security for the local town and worked closely with the mayor. It was a good life, but boring." Dian Wei started. "Then I decided to work with merchants, travel a bit you see, that didn't work out well."

He laughed at himself, causing Gan Ning to laugh in response. The laughter lightened the mood in the somber torture chamber they were in.

"Anyway, you saved my life, so my life is now yours." Dian Wei continued.

Everyone's faces dropped.

"What do you mean, your life is now mine?" Mark asked seriously.

"It's like this, I was expecting death, I even acknowledged that I was going to die, I came to terms with it and was prepared to meet my gods. But you saved me, so now I am here alive, with no plans." He replied.

"Boss, he could join the Red Ribbons, just look at him, he's obviously a powerful warrior!" Gan Ning added.

"I agree." Boudica agreed earnestly.

Mark raised his hand to stop them talking, before looking in to Dian Wei's eyes.

"We are the Red Ribbons, a mercenary group with the aim to grow and create our own place in this chaotic land" Mark started. "You can join if you so wish."

"Sounds exciting." Dian Wei replied. "What would my role be?"

"My personal bodyguard" Mark replied. Causing a face of shock to appear on Boudica and Gan Nings faces.

Excitement appeared on Dian Wei's face as he went to stand up. Belle grabbed his shoulder and forced him down.

"Sit! I am still cleaning your wounds." she retorted to him sternly.

Boudica lent in to Mark's ear, "You sure this is a good idea?"

"Very sure!" Mark replied. A huge grin on his face, a grin that was mirrored on Dian Wei's face.

"Get yourself cleaned up by Belle. For now, she's your boss. Come see me outside when you are done." Mark ordered, before turning and leaving the room.

Gan Ning winked at Dian Wei before leaving with Mark and Boudica.

Mission update

24/50 Mercenaries Hired

*Keep up the good work!*

...

Eduardo was waiting for them at the fire pit, the woman from the cages earlier was stood beside him, her name was Carol and she was part of a merchant group that had been ambushed by the Mount Tai Wood Bandits. They had been in a similar situation to Mark when they had originally headed to Raven's Peak, but their guards weren't natural warriors.

Mark approached them both, most of the troops were gathered here now surrounding the tied up bandits. The rest where with the remaining people they had rescued, making sure they were safe, but also not letting them leave for the time being.

"Hey Carol." Mark started, "How are you feeling?"

"Better." She replied, "Your men have been very kind."

"That is good." Mark replied kindly, "I was wondering if you could help me out a little."

"What ever I can do to repay your favour!" she replied honestly. Mark smiled, before nodding to Eduardo.

"Right you cretins, stand up!" Eduardo shouted to the tied up bandits. "We are going to play a little game."

Fear flashed upon their faces as they looked around at each other. What games? they questioned in their minds.

"Carol, I'll need you to point out the bad ones to me, the rest we'll give a chance of redemption to." Mark offered quietly.

"Ok!" Carol replied, a smile on her face. Vengeance she thought to herself.

"What games you may ask?" Eduardo continued loudly. "Gladiator games! Winners have a chance to join us, losers? Well they can join the rest of your friends....In the ground!"

There was a loud cheer from the Red Ribbons! Lucan and Rollo started banging their weapons against their shields, causing the other ribbons to start banging their weapons together, creating a rhythm of loud banging noises.

"Let the games begin!" Eduardo announced excitedly.