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Chai Xianghua (柴 香華 ''Chai Shanghwa''; pīnyīn:''Chái Xiāng Húa'' ) is a Fictional character designed for the '''''Soul'' Series''' of Fighting Games . Xianghua made her first appearance in '' Soul Calibur '' and has returned for '' Soul Calibur II '' and '' Soul Calibur III ''. She was also one of the few characters to have a consistent voice actor, as many characters got new ones in Soul Calibur III. BIOGRAPHY Throughout generations of the Chai family, there have been many seasoned warriors of China , men and women alike, as was the family's custom. A few decades previous to the events that transpire in this series, it was time for the eldest son to succeed his father's Estate , and for the remaining children to branch off and form their own lives and families, as always. The second son settled in the Ling-Sheng Su Temple in the pursuit of great swordsmanship. He was intent on following the family's custom to serve his nation, and the Ling-Sheng Su Temple was the greatest Martial Arts school in China . A few years later, his daughter, Xiangfei, was born in a nearby village, and she was sent to the temple to learn the art of swordplay. She diligently trained and became supremely skilled with the tai chi Jian , surpassing many of the Monks at the temple. But she was a woman, and thus ineligible to become inheritor of the Krita-Yuga, the holy Jian artifact of the temple. Following her father's passing, Xiangfei began to train even harder, and eventually fell in love with a Monk at the temple, Kong Xiuqiang, thought to be the most prominent candidate for inheritor of the holy Bo Staff , Kali-Yuga; but their love was expressly forbidden, because a candidate for holy artifact inheritance was never allowed to stray from the "true path". Not until the birth of a Bastard child--a daughter they named Xianglian--was their love made known to the other Monks . The Monks remained very strict regarding the temple's edict, and the child was taken from them on her second birthday. Xiangfei became too wrought with grief to remain at the temple and left, never to return. Han Dongxiu, a sworn brother of both Xiuqiang and Xiangfei, urged Xiuqiang to leave with her and start a family with his lover; but Xiuqiang told him that he must stay to create his own future with his own strength, and Xiangfei agreed that that was best. But as a final goodbye, Dongxiu helped Xiuqiang sneak the Krita-Yuga to his lover, to serve as a promise the two would one day meet again; and they returned to the temple. And Xiangfei walked away for good, telling no one her destination. Unknown to Xiuqiang, however, was that when Xiangfei had left the temple, she was pregnant with a second child; she never told him so that he would continue his training, and focus on becoming inheritor of the Kali-Yuga instead. She secretly returned to her homeland, and was taken in by the Chai household there; and she became a Soldier in the Ming Dynasty Imperial Guard. Months later, she gave birth to her second daughter, Xianghua, but never revealed anything about the girl's father or his lineage to her. By this time, the temple had realized that the Krita-Yuga was missing, and found that Xiuqiang had stolen it. He was exiled from the temple, and Xianglian was to remain there to be trained as an orphan, where she would become a great friend to Kilik , the eventual successor of Kali-Yuga. Xiuqiang eventually discovered Xiangfei's whereabouts and her links to the Chai family; but the family asked him to leave her alone, as she believed that he was training and she would be happier in her ignorance. Xiuqiang agreed and left, never finding out about his second daughter, Xianghua. Meanwhile, the temple was frantically searching for the Krita-Yuga. Their first suspect had been Xiangfei, but when they arrived, all they found was young Xianghua playing with a battered tai chi Jian ; and they gave up the search years later. Only Xiuqiang had known that the Jian Xianghua would have been holding was actually the Krita-Yuga in disguise, as it was wont to transform into a battered Jian if separated from the temple's two other holy treasures to protect itself. As time passed, Xianghua learned to use the Jian just as well as her mother had. Xiangfei passed when Xianghua was only ten, driving her to train much harder; and six years later, she had become a member of the Imperial Guard, never knowing of her older sister or her tragic death on the night of the Evil Seed at the Ling-Sheng Su Temple. Eventually, the emperor of Ming Dynasty China had become displeased with the search for the "Hero's Sword"; he never heard back from any that had ventured out, including Li Long ; so he sent members of his Imperial Guard to help the quest advance more quickly. Chai Xianghua was included among that group. The guards traveled under the guise of a traveling Opera troupe, so as not to raise suspicion of their true motives. Xianghua, who was trained in Martial Arts since she had been a child, was to be the main attraction. As she prepared for her journey, she recalled her mother's dying words--that she was born to complete an important task and that she must cut her own path through an uncertain future. With her mother's keepsake--an old tai chi Jian --Xianghua left on her own with the sense of invisible forces pushing her onward. On her journey, she encountered a member of the Ling-Sheng Su Temple in China , Kilik , and a Japanese Pirate of the Ryukyu Kingdom , Maxi . Told of the Soul Edge's evil nature by Kilik , she agreed to aid both of them in their journey to destroy the evil blade, unknowing all the while that she had had a sister, Xianglian, at Ling-Sheng Su Temple and that her sister was eventually killed by Kilik in self-defense on the night of the notorious Evil Seed. With Kilik and Maxi's help, Xianghua stormed Ostrheinsburg Castle. Maxi stayed behind and defeated the castle's guard, Astaroth , but his life was lost in the process. Kilik and Xianghua together entered the castle, where Kilik used his holy Bo Staff Kali-Yuga to defeat the azure Knight , Nightmare ; but the battle left him too weary to fight the Inferno . As Xianghua readied herself for the fight, her mother's keepsake unveiled itself as the holy sword, Soul Calibur , and she plunged it into the Inferno's heart, banishing it into a void; although the Soul Calibur became trapped in the void along with it. After destroying the sword she was sent to find, a mysterious man approached her and awarded her with an unnamed Jian in return for the great deed she had done; this man was more than likely Edge Master . Upon returning home, news had reached the emperor that she had destroyed the "Hero's Sword," and Xianghua fell into his disfavor. She was stripped of her rank and reassigned to a menial position. Four years later, news reached her that the emperor had attacked Xiwei (present-day Xi'an ), which had been the center of government in the Ming Dynasty's western territory. The emperor believed that the fortress had been withholding the Soul Edge from him, and when the fortress guards killed his envoy in annoyance of his blind obstinancy, he ordered that the city be summarily destroyed and all the citizens executed. When the castle fell and the sword was not found, the emperor summoned Xianghua in his stupor and asked for her knowledge and experience. Xianghua believed she had destroyed the Soul Edge, but investigation proved otherwise, and pieces of it were rumored to exist in this place. If this story had been true, Xianghua needed to find every fragment and destroy them. She left on a second journey alone, once again with her mother's dying words echoing in her mind. During her adventure, Xianghua was once again reunited with her companion, Kilik . While on their journey, the two of ran afoul of a "man with a scythe" ( Zasalamel ), who wished to eliminate people who had the potential to destroy Soul Edge. Showing Xianghua no concern, Zasalamel attacked and defeated Kilik while Xianghua could do nothing to help. Afterwards, Xianghua took the gravely injured Kilik back to Edge Master 's home, where she was relieved to hear that Kilik would make a full recovery. After leaving a letter for Kilik, she departed, seeking an old general whom Edge Master had arranged for her to meet. Training with the old general, Xianghua's skills improved significantly. However, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't shake off an overwhelming feeling of inadequacy due to her failure to help Kilik. She told herself, "I mustn't fear!" in meager attempts to convince herself. The old general noticed her anxiety and provided sage advice: "Sometimes, the path of the warrior requires letting in dark feelings, weighing them, then letting them go." Xianghua then began to train her mind. Rather than being steadfastly rigid and stubborn, she would be more fluid and allow her heart to filter in both the good and the bad. After months of training, she felt that she was ready and bid farewell to the general, beginning her journey anew. WEAPONS -- Krita-Yuga The keepsake sword of her mother, this was Xianghua's treasure. Every time she gazed at the sword, he remembered her mother's last words: "You were born to complete an important task... cut your path through uncertain future!". What Xianghua didn't know was that Krita- Yuga , alongside Kali- Yuga and Dvapara- Yuga , formed the sacred trinity protected by the Ling-Sheng Su Temple. The sword, at the pulsing force of the evil Soul Edge, reveal its real form as Soul Calibur, the polar opposite of Soul Edge. After defeating Inferno, Soul Calibur ended stuck in it for the next 4 years, and after Siegfried free himself from Soul Edge's control, it was freed from the Tartaros. Siegfried then used it to pierce Soul Edge, and both Soul Calibur and Soul Edge ended in a dormant state, known as the "Soul Embrace". -- No Name After the battle against Soul Edge ended, an old man payed a visit to Xianghua. He presented himself as a master swordsman, and handed her this nameless blue weapon as thanks for defeating Soul Edge. He then left for parts unknown. STAGES -- Emperor's Garden (SC) This grand garden was designed to be the Ming Emperor's summer home. It made perfect use of the natural landscape giving visitors the beautiful scenery of the four seasons. Aside from the Emperor and his family only the royal guards, including Xianghua, were permitted to enter the house. When Xianghua received the order to search for the Soul Edge she visited the garden for the first time. The garden, as if celebrating her departure, was in full bloom. -- Xiwei Siege Ruins (SC2) Xiwei, positioned near the west border of the Ming Empire, was a vital stronghold for maintaining the empire's western territories. Tragically, when the Emperor believed the castle was hiding the Hero's Sword from him, he dispatched an army to seize the castle. Ultimately, the citadel was destroyed. Sadly, the army failed to find the sword in the rubble of the stronghold. Was Soul Edge, known in this region as the Hero's Sword, really at Xiwei? Or was this place destroyed due to a misunderstanding? No one can answer these questions now. (Note: Xianghua shared this stage with Mitsurugi) -- Lotus Garden (SC3) Originally constructed as a retreat for the Ming Emperor, this garden is now a large park open to the public. Most of the area is made up of water, and a combination of bridges and peninsulas creates a deep, complex landscape. The view from the palace, the former residence of the royal family, is especially beautiful, entertaining visitors with the blossoms that change colors with the seasons. Currently, the park is under the management of a powerful, elderly general of the Ming Empire. Thanks to the kindness of the general, Xianghua now trains secretly here amid the morning mist. CHARACTER ANALYSIS Xianghua is universally regarded as a Top-tier character. In fact, she is consistently mentioned as being the best character in the game and has a dominating tournament presence. Her many strengths include quickness, damaging combos, fast "lows", safe pokes, cancels, and surprising range (that goes for her throws as well). She has no glaring weakness. In fact, a common complaint is that Xianghua requires only five moves to win consistently, although this claim is vehemently disputed by her supporters. In Soul Calibur III , many of her strengths have been toned down, such as 3A being slower and decreased evasive properties of 25_85B; however, she gained the legendary 66A+B~g, which is considered by many to be one of the cheapest moves in the game. It is a tech crouching evade that takes Xianghua right next to the enemy without putting her at a disadvantage, while evading many moves including horizontal highs. So it is not only a superb dodge, but also a tool to close distance safely against longer ranged characters. In SC3, she is usually considered as one of the top 2 characters along with Sophitia , and remains Top-tier . In PAL and upcoming arcade versions, 66A+B~g cancel is being taken out, and her frame trap 7_8_9K are also being removed; however, she still has enough tools to be a mid-upper character, although no longer top tier. TRIVIA
SERIES' APPEARANCES
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