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Death's Hand is a fictional character in the Xbox game Jade Empire . He was also the major villain in the game's ad campaigns. Only shown in black armor like that of the old Japanese Samurai , the villain was mostly seen wielding two blades. STORY Death's Hand is the Emperor's right hand in the Jade Empire. Always clad in his fearsome armor, he serves as the head of the mysterious Lotus Assassins. Using fear and efficient brutality, Death's Hand has ensured everyone is afraid of even speaking his name. Near the start of the game, Death's Hand attacks the hero's home with his assassins and kidnaps the main character's mentor, Master Li, who is actually Sun Li the Glorious Strategist, brother of the Emperor. He brings the former royal family member to Emperor Sun Hai and continues his dark deeds. Later, the hero comes to the Imperial City, and infiltrates the Lotus Assassin fortress. After proving his or her worth, the hero corrupts a Jade Golem and kills Death's Hand's underling, Grand Inquisitor Jia. Death's Hand himself comes to the fortress, seeking to destroy the hero. Saved only by the warning of friend Sagacious Zu, the ex-Lotus Assassin, the hero narrowly misses a slash by the black armored fiend only to promptly be kicked across the room. Zu hastens his fellow out, and delivers a kick to the mask of Death's Hand. The villain misses twice more in an attempt to cleave the one time Assassin, but hits two pillars instead. Finally, Death's Hand pauses and then turns around with lightning speed, finally stabbing his blade through Zu's chest. The Lotus Assassin leader forces Zu to his knees, saying mockingly, "You knew you could not beat me, Exile." To this Zu responds, "I wasn't looking for victory...just a few seconds!" Death's Hand retracts his blade in time to see the whole ceiling collapse on top of him. The hero confronts the Emperor in the Imperial Palace, where the ruler of the Jade Empire declares that Death's Hand was simply a diversion, a patsy to blame all of his Empire's failings on. The main character proceeds to kill the Emperor, only to be betrayed in turn by Master Li, who had been using the hero to exact revenge on his brother. The hero had been only a tool in Sun Li's plan to control the Empire. As a spirit, the hero returns to the defiled temple of Dirge, where he or she meets the ghost of Abbot Song, who ruled Dirge before its downfall. He tells the main character the true tale of the falling of Dirge. Emperor Sun Hai, Sun Li the Glorious Strategist, and Prince Sun Kin the Hand of Heaven assaulted Dirge and its people, sparing none. They made their way to the inner temple, and Sun Hai stepped beyond his station and stole the Water Dragon's power. However, his two brothers were not content to watch their sibling come to power, and Prince Kin plunged his blade into the Emperor's back. But with his new strength, Sun Hai now had the power of a god. He killed Sun Kin, and Sun Li fled and left his brother to suffer the Emperor's retribution. Sun Li followed the hero's guardian, who was trying to save the main character (who was still just a babe) from the Emperor. Li killed the guardian, taking his identity, and fled the land with the hero. Li abandoned his fearsome armor and swords when he left. Sun Hai tried to follow his brother, but it was too late. As a taunt to his treacherous brother, the Emperor bound Kin's spirit to the armor Li left behind...and Death's Hand was born. With the Abbot's help, the hero returns to the land of the living and meets up with his or her fellows. The Glorious Strategist senses his former student's return, and using his new power resurrects Death's Hand, raising his brother from the ruins of the Lotus Assassin fortress. Sun Li uses his army of golems to assault Dirge once more, but due to some quick thinking by the hero and his or her group, they hold off the main force. The bell in the Dirge Temple rings and when the hero goes to investigate, he or she finds out that friend Sky told the Lotus Assassins he would help them. Sky quickly says that was a lie, and when Death's Hand comes to kill the hero and congratulate Sky, the dashing rogue sets off some explosives, killing the evil warrior's group of Assassins and hurting him. He then confronts the hero, and after a short exchange of words, they do battle. The hero defeats Death's Hand, but victory is quickly interrupted by an appiration of Sun Li. Li and the hero have a battle of wills for control of Death's Hand. This is where Death's Hand's fate is sealed. If the hero fails in the battle of wills, Death's Hand perishes. However, if the hero should win, there are two options. He or she can either let the tormented soul of Prince Kin go free, the "nice" thing to do...or he or she can bind Death's Hand to him or her, gaining a new follower and forcing the juggernaut of pain to do his Master's will. The rest of this story will go on if the player choses option two. Death's Hand returns with his new Master outside, where some of the hero's followers do not agree with the enslaving of the villain. Depending on who the hero romanced and turned "evil", the main character will have to bind up to four followers. This forces the bound followers to do their binder's will, whether they like it or not. After this, the group finally returns to the palace, where they enter the tomb of the Water Dragon, and see the horror that is her torment. The hero has two choices here. 1. The hero kills the bound followers and poisons the Water Dragon with their blood, weakening Sun Li for the upcoming battle. Finally, Death's Hand's master defeats Li, and takes control of the Empire. Death's Hand grows stronger each passing day, enfused with his Master's power. Eventually, he grows oustide of Li's armor and becomes something other, much to his Master's approval. Death's Hand lives as long as his Master lives, and always shows up when the face of fear was needed to quell rebellion within the Empire. 2. The hero destroys the body of the Water Dragon, weakening Sun Li for the upcoming battle. Finally, Death's Hand's master defeats Li, and restores Princess Sun Lian to the throne. After the power of the Water Dragon is restored, Death's Hand is sustained by the hero's force of will. Some consider this cruel, and to Death's Hand it is just continued enslavement, but in the weeks that follow, the influence that had corrupted him begins to fade, and a semblance of self returns. For the first time in decades, Death's Hand feels something other than rage; sadness for how he, as Sun Kin, had helped attack Dirge so long ago. Acceptance of this changes him, and he wanders the Empire seeking redemption. No longer bound to Sun Li's armor, he wears it anyway, a symbol not of the monster he was forced to be, but of the monster he had not recognized within himself. EXTERNAL LINKS |
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