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By Jeff McClellan

Guo-charavong was born to a poor family somewhere in Gerilong. At the age of 4 or 5 his family left home after a season of severe flooding to find their fortunes elsewhere. After many days of travelling on the road, they were attacked by bandits at night. His parents were brutally killed, his older sister was kidnapped (and no doubt suffered a fate worse than death), and Guo was left for dead after being knocked unconscious by a vicious blow and falling face first onto the family’s campfire. He was found the next day by wandering monks, who revived him, buried his parents, and brought him back to their monastery, one of the few outposts of the Order of the Five Realms.

The Order takes it name from the study of the Five Realms of existence: earth, water, fire, wind, and void. Each potential novice spends five months studying each realm in order, then must pass a series of five tests before passing on to the study of the next realm. Training is a combination of physical, mental, and spiritual disciplines. The philosophy of the Order is based on the Book of Five Realms, an ancient text written by the legendary Wen Xiang-Do, the Order's founding member and greatest warrior. Stories about Wen Xiang-Do abound, but the best known is the legend of his greatest martial feat, single-handedly defeating a great five-headed serpent. Of course there is a moral to the story: only by using his knowledge of the Five Realms was Wen Xiang-Do able to slay the powerful beast.

Guo was treated for his injuries and severe burn by the friendly monks. He was withdrawn and refused to speak for over a month, uttering only the words “guo” and “charavong”, so the monks assumed this was his name. Guo never corrected them; it remains an open question as to whether or not these words are in fact his name or if they have some other signficance. It was decided by the order’s masters to place the child in the care of a foster family in a nearby town. The family were farmers and soon put Guo to work. He was never abused but did not receive any kind of education either. When Guo reached the traditional age of adulthood, a marriage was arranged by his family to a young woman in a neighboring town who was very ugly but whose family was relatively wealthy. Guo balked at this and ran away from home. After several days of wandering and soul-searching, he ended up back at the front door of the Order of the Five Realms. He petitioned to become a student of their order and was eventually accepted. After just over five years of intense study and training, Guo was pronounced an official novice of the order (1st level monk). He spent the next several months in service to the Order, never travellling far from their stronghold.

One day, he was summoned by the head of the Order, Master Gong Li. Guo was asked what he saw as his future with the Order. He replied that he sought nothing more than to live a life in service to the Order that had given him everything. Master Li praised Guo’s dedication and humility, but instructed him that his destiny lied along a different path. He tasked Guo to travel far and wide, teaching others about the Five Realms and doing good in any way possible. Guo was reluctant at first, but soon agreed, having faith in the Master’s wisdom. His last act before departing was to carefully scribe a copy of one of the Order’s most sacred relics, an ancient copy of the Book of Five Realms, onto five pieces of parchment, to be carried with him always.

Since then Guo has gained worldly experience and continued his studies and training on his own. He now seeks his destiny wherever fate may take him...

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