On the surface, Liu presents an immature demeanor. He is stubborn, strong-willed, and often lets his pettiness and revengeful get the better of him; often having to be restrained or reprimanded by whoever is present. Liu is selfish and generally acting more out of self-interest than any sort of philanthropy as well as taking several opportunities to stroke his own ego or flaunt his status as a Earth King.
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We are often reminded that when the world has us at our lowest points, that we can only rise up to grow stronger, changing our fate in life. Some may believe in destiny, but fate is what you make of it, and is constantly changing based on choices made. --Liu did not realize this until much later in his life.
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When he was a youth, he believed that life was laid out in a path for him, unable to be twisted or changed in anyway. His father was Earth King, his older sister in line to be Queen, and he was to be married and continue his father's bloodline. For a decade and a half he was told this was his duty and he did not have a say otherwise. He wouldn't be recognized as Earth King without the power of the element.
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Liu served as a general in his father's army, his sister recently wedded and was to give birth to an heir. He was twenty years old, and had come of age to wed himself. This was important, as his father had married a princess from the fire kingdom in a political marriage, bearing now a daughter and son from a strong heritage. Liu sought the same with his wife, taking Yue, a noble lady, as his wife.
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It was shortly after his marriage that a great accident befell upon the family, changing everything.
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There was a break in at the Royal Palace. Guards scrambled, maidens screamed, and a fire broke out. Liu ensured the safety of his wife before stepping up to face the bandits that tore the palace to it's foundation, but by then, the damage had already been done. The fire blazed, and it was not until then that he realized what fate had become of his sister.
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His father held nothing back as he rushed in, time passing before he was seen carrying the woman out to safety, but it was far too late. She was subdued by a bandit, a knife plunged deep into her pregnant belly, and left to bleed in the burning palace. Her husband, who searched for her relentlessly prior, was trapped inside and burned to death.
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She was rushed to medical, but they could not save her, along the baby, thus only the infant survived, and was placed in the arms of Yue. Lee Feng decreed in secret, to all in that room, that Xhao's death wouldn't be in vain and that Liu would raise the baby like his own. The baby would never grow to learn of his mother or the terrible death that befell her, and as soon as he would come of age and prove his strength, he would be crowned King.
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That was 17 years ago, and would be seen as a dark night that they would all rather forget. But the scars it left were far deeper than anyone could imagine. The Earth King, Lee Feng, soon after grew deathly ill. The smoke he inhaled from the fire did irreparable damage to his lungs and he lived out only another 5 years after the incident.
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After his death, Liu was crowned King, at the young age of 25. 6 years before, Yue had given birth to her own son, Hui, a older brother to Li Ren, -- his sisters legacy.

+weapon (sword)[break]
master[break]
+martial fighting[break]
adept[break]

地の剣 Ji no Ken Sword of the Earth
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Appearance: 60 cm of folded steel; layered tamahagane smelted in the heat of the fire nation volcanoes, and polished in the pools of the northern tribe fortress. A tang of embroidered metal, glistening with gold pattern and a hilt wrapped in strong woven charcoal colored silk. A brilliantly forged sword, decorated appropriately with a matching sheath to keep it well oiled.
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Brief History: A katana manifested as a symbol for the Earth Kingdom, it has been a legacy passed own for generations. For decades the blade rested in a sealed vault for protection, but has long since been worn at the belt of Liu after being presented to him on his sixteenth birthday.