Tong of the Black Scorpion: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox Organisation | {{Infobox Organisation | ||
|image = ScorpHand.jpg | |||
|image = | |leader = {{il|[[Magnus Greel]]|[[Li H'sen Chang]]|[[Hsien-Ko]]}} | ||
|leader =[[Magnus Greel]] | |aka = | ||
|aka = | |affiliation = [[Kuomintang]] | ||
|affiliation = | |bases = {{il|[[Palace Theatre]]|[[House of the Dragon]]|[[T'ai Shan]]}} | ||
|bases =[[ | |first = The Talons of Weng-Chiang (TV story) | ||
|appearances =[[ | |appearances = [[PROSE]]: ''[[The Shadow of Weng-Chiang (novel)|The Shadow of Weng-Chiang]]'' | ||
|members =[[Lee | |members = {{il|[[Lee (The Talons of Weng-Chiang)|Lee]]|[[Ho]]}} | ||
| | |size = | ||
}} | }}The '''Tong of the Black Scorpion''' was a [[China|Chinese]] [[cult]] devoted to the ancient [[god]] [[Weng-Chiang]]. The [[Fourth Doctor]] called it one of the most dangerous [[criminal]] [[Politics|political]] organisations on [[Earth]]. | ||
The '''Tong of the Black Scorpion''' was a [[ | |||
== History == | |||
=== Origins === | |||
In ancient [[China|Chinese]] [[history]], in the days before [[Qin Shi Huang]] united the land into the [[Chinese Empire]] in the 3rd century [[BC]], the [[mountain]]s of [[Sichuan]] were inhabited by dacoity who worshipped [[Weng-Chiang]], who was an ethnic corruption of [[Sung-Chiang]], the god of [[Thief|thieves]] and [[criminal]]s. These groups committed acts of [[bandit]]ry in the name of their god, and were some of the ancient forbearers of the Chinese [[tongs]] and triads, including the Tong of the Black Scorpion. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Shadow of Weng-Chiang (novel)|The Shadow of Weng-Chiang]]'') | |||
The Tong's agents had a [[black]] [[scorpion]] [[tattoo]]ed on one of their [[hand]]s. Followers believed Weng-Chiang would one day return and rule [[Earth|the world]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Talons of Weng-Chiang (TV story)|The Talons of Weng-Chiang]]'') | |||
=== Leadership of Magnus Greel === | |||
[[File:Magnus Greel.jpg|thumb|left|[[Magnus Greel]], revered by the Tong as [[Weng-Chiang]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Talons of Weng-Chiang (TV story)|The Talons of Weng-Chiang]]'')]] | |||
In [[1872]], [[Magnus Greel]], the [[war criminal]] from the [[51st century]] who has escaped [[Battle of Reykjavik|defeat]] in [[World War VI]], ([[TV]]: ''[[The Talons of Weng-Chiang (TV story)|The Talons of Weng-Chiang]]'') landed in a [[time cabinet]] in the [[Jade Emperor Temple]] in [[Shangdong]] [[province]] in China, atop the mountain of [[T'ai Shan]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Shadow of Weng-Chiang (novel)|The Shadow of Weng-Chiang]]'') The time cabinet was captured by Chinese [[soldier]]s and in [[1873]], [[Emperor]] [[Tongzhi]] presented it as a parting [[gift]] to [[George Litefoot's mother|the mother]] of [[George Litefoot]] before the [[family]] returned to [[London]]. Deformed by the [[time travel]] and needing the cabinet back to aid in his recovery, Greel took control of the cult, who believed him to be Weng-Chiang returned. | |||
By [[1892]], Greel and the Tong were active in London. The leader of the cult, subordinate to Greel, was [[Li H'sen Chang]], who worked in the [[Palace Theatre]] as a conjurer. They were responsible for the abduction of the [[young]] [[girl]]s that the dying Greel needed for his recovery, as he needed their [[life]] essence to sustain himself. When caught in public or deemed to have [[Failure|failed]], members were expected to commit [[suicide]] by taking a pill containing highly concentrated [[scorpion venom]]. | |||
[[File:Greel, Four and the Tong.jpg|thumb|Greel and the Tong members confront [[Fourth Doctor|the Doctor]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Talons of Weng-Chiang (TV story)|The Talons of Weng-Chiang]]'')]] | |||
Chang remained [[Loyalty|loyal]] to Greel and was granted advanced, superhuman abilities such as [[hypnosis]] in return, but he swiftly fell out of favour when he was forced to confront the [[Fourth Doctor]]. Outwitted numerous times, Chang was berated by Greel and eventually publicly lost face at the Theatre because of Greel's desperate actions. Chang suddenly grew an intense [[Hate|hatred]] of Greel and sought his downfall, but he [[Death|died]] himself as a result of [[Injury|injuries]] sustained by the [[giant rat]]s [[guard]]ing Greel's hideout. | |||
The remaining Tong members rallied around Greel at the [[House of the Dragon]], but they were [[massacre]]d when the [[Peking Homunculus]], [[Mr Sin]], malfunctioned and attacked them with the [[zygma beam]]. A dying Greel disintegrated when he fell into his [[catalytic extraction chamber]] and his remaining [[life]] essence was taken from him. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Talons of Weng-Chiang (TV story)|The Talons of Weng-Chiang]]'') | |||
=== Leadership of Hsien-Ko === | |||
By [[August]] [[1937]], at the beginning of the [[Second Sino-Japanese War]], the Tong was led by [[Hsien-Ko]], Li H'sen Chang's [[daughter]]. Under her leadership, they no longer revered Magnus Greel as Weng-Chiang. Seeking [[revenge]] for the death of her [[father]], Hsien-Ko instead intended to extract Greel and the cabinet out of [[time]] before it arrived in 1872 and punish him for his actions. | |||
[[File:Mr Sin.jpg|thumb|left|[[Mr Sin]], the [[Peking Homunculus]], was regularly utilised by the Tong leadership. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Talons of Weng-Chiang (TV story)|The Talons of Weng-Chiang]]'', [[PROSE]]: ''[[The Shadow of Weng-Chiang (novel)|The Shadow of Weng-Chiang]]'')]] | |||
Having partially infiltrating the [[rank]]s of the [[Kuomintang]], the Tong had secretly constructed a [[nuclear reactor]] inside T'ai Shan to generate the power necessary to make the extraction. However, the Tong was infiltrated itself by [[Sung-Chi Li]], an agent working for the [[Japan]]ese. Spreading rumours about [[Spy|spies]] in their numbers, he manipulated the Tong members into fighting each other and, alongside the further malfunction of Mr Sin, they virtually wiped each other out. | |||
Hsien-Ko continued with the extraction of the time cabinet. However, Sung-Chi Li nearly caused the reactor to go critical, and the ultimate failure came when the Doctor used [[The Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]] to [[time ram]] Greel back on to his original course and preserve the [[timeline]]. Standing at the heart of this temporal disruption, Hsien-Ko was [[Temporal dissolution|erased from existence]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Shadow of Weng-Chiang (novel)|The Shadow of Weng-Chiang]]'') | |||
[[Category:Human criminal organisations]] | [[Category:Human criminal organisations]] | ||
[[Category:Earth-based organisations]] | [[Category:Earth-based organisations]] | ||
[[Category:Human cults]] | [[Category:Human cults]] | ||
Latest revision as of 18:42, 30 April 2022
The Tong of the Black Scorpion was a Chinese cult devoted to the ancient god Weng-Chiang. The Fourth Doctor called it one of the most dangerous criminal political organisations on Earth.
History[[edit] | [edit source]]
Origins[[edit] | [edit source]]
In ancient Chinese history, in the days before Qin Shi Huang united the land into the Chinese Empire in the 3rd century BC, the mountains of Sichuan were inhabited by dacoity who worshipped Weng-Chiang, who was an ethnic corruption of Sung-Chiang, the god of thieves and criminals. These groups committed acts of banditry in the name of their god, and were some of the ancient forbearers of the Chinese tongs and triads, including the Tong of the Black Scorpion. (PROSE: The Shadow of Weng-Chiang)
The Tong's agents had a black scorpion tattooed on one of their hands. Followers believed Weng-Chiang would one day return and rule the world. (TV: The Talons of Weng-Chiang)
Leadership of Magnus Greel[[edit] | [edit source]]
In 1872, Magnus Greel, the war criminal from the 51st century who has escaped defeat in World War VI, (TV: The Talons of Weng-Chiang) landed in a time cabinet in the Jade Emperor Temple in Shangdong province in China, atop the mountain of T'ai Shan. (PROSE: The Shadow of Weng-Chiang) The time cabinet was captured by Chinese soldiers and in 1873, Emperor Tongzhi presented it as a parting gift to the mother of George Litefoot before the family returned to London. Deformed by the time travel and needing the cabinet back to aid in his recovery, Greel took control of the cult, who believed him to be Weng-Chiang returned.
By 1892, Greel and the Tong were active in London. The leader of the cult, subordinate to Greel, was Li H'sen Chang, who worked in the Palace Theatre as a conjurer. They were responsible for the abduction of the young girls that the dying Greel needed for his recovery, as he needed their life essence to sustain himself. When caught in public or deemed to have failed, members were expected to commit suicide by taking a pill containing highly concentrated scorpion venom.
Chang remained loyal to Greel and was granted advanced, superhuman abilities such as hypnosis in return, but he swiftly fell out of favour when he was forced to confront the Fourth Doctor. Outwitted numerous times, Chang was berated by Greel and eventually publicly lost face at the Theatre because of Greel's desperate actions. Chang suddenly grew an intense hatred of Greel and sought his downfall, but he died himself as a result of injuries sustained by the giant rats guarding Greel's hideout.
The remaining Tong members rallied around Greel at the House of the Dragon, but they were massacred when the Peking Homunculus, Mr Sin, malfunctioned and attacked them with the zygma beam. A dying Greel disintegrated when he fell into his catalytic extraction chamber and his remaining life essence was taken from him. (TV: The Talons of Weng-Chiang)
Leadership of Hsien-Ko[[edit] | [edit source]]
By August 1937, at the beginning of the Second Sino-Japanese War, the Tong was led by Hsien-Ko, Li H'sen Chang's daughter. Under her leadership, they no longer revered Magnus Greel as Weng-Chiang. Seeking revenge for the death of her father, Hsien-Ko instead intended to extract Greel and the cabinet out of time before it arrived in 1872 and punish him for his actions.
Having partially infiltrating the ranks of the Kuomintang, the Tong had secretly constructed a nuclear reactor inside T'ai Shan to generate the power necessary to make the extraction. However, the Tong was infiltrated itself by Sung-Chi Li, an agent working for the Japanese. Spreading rumours about spies in their numbers, he manipulated the Tong members into fighting each other and, alongside the further malfunction of Mr Sin, they virtually wiped each other out.
Hsien-Ko continued with the extraction of the time cabinet. However, Sung-Chi Li nearly caused the reactor to go critical, and the ultimate failure came when the Doctor used the TARDIS to time ram Greel back on to his original course and preserve the timeline. Standing at the heart of this temporal disruption, Hsien-Ko was erased from existence. (PROSE: The Shadow of Weng-Chiang)
