Zhang Yuan

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Zhang Yuan (张元)
Alias(es)	Charnem 12 13
Species/Race	Human 2 3
Gender	Male
Age	24 2 3
Alignment	Lawful Neutral 2 3
Origin	Earth; formerly an overseas graduate student and computer science major 2 4 5
Affiliation	Skar's Flaming Fist mercenary team, initially as an unofficial member 13 17
Occupation/Role	Bladesinger/Mage; DLTCEP Auto-Battler Courier 2 3
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Auto-Battler Courier	2	Accepted binding to the DLTCEP Auto-Battler System; received the system identity and its initial assessment.
Bladesinger/Mage template	3	Used a 17-point bonus roll to prioritize Constitution and Intelligence at 18; selected a longsword, two-weapon fighting, and seven 1st-level spells.
Mage, Level 1	13 16	Joined Skar's team as a novice generalist mage with seven 1st-level spells.
Bladesinger, Level 3 / Mage	17	A month of melee and evasion training increased his Strength to 16, Dexterity to 13, and Charisma to 11; gained Dodge and Roll combat specialization.
Auto-battler summoning enabled	28 29	Importing Summon Monster I linked summoning magic to the Void Chessboard, allowing him to spend Energy on summonable chess pieces, beginning with Tiny.

Background

Zhang Yuan was a socially withdrawn graduate student from Earth who spent much of his time gaming, drinking tea, and experimenting with game modifications. Dissatisfied with existing Baldur's Gate class options, he attempted to create an auto-battler summoner class through DLTCEP. His computer crashed during the attempt; upon restarting, he found himself in a mist-filled realm atop an auto-battler board and accepted the DLTCEP system's binding. 1 2

After importing a Bladesinger/Mage character template, Zhang Yuan awoke in an abandoned wooden house in Baldur's Gate. He confirmed that he had transmigrated to Faerûn through local references to the Sword Coast, Beregost, and the city itself. The system's Tongue of the Planes function let him understand the local language. 3 4 5

Initially penniless, he turned a €20 banknote into an “artwork” and sold it to Claude Wolf for five gold coins. The sale funded his first days in the city and brought him into contact with the impoverished painter Wiles. 6 7 He later learned that the current era was five years after the Time of Troubles, giving him a reference point for Faerûn's timeline. 10

Zhang Yuan retains a strong desire to return to Earth, particularly because his parents remain there. He believes sufficiently advanced magic or planar travel may eventually make a return possible. 4 22

Appearance

Zhang Yuan is an average-looking young man with black hair and black eyes, features that stand out in Baldur's Gate. His original Earth clothing initially marked him as conspicuously foreign. 1 5

• Initially wore modern clothes altered to remove recognizable logos. 5
• Later adopted local coarse cloth clothing and purchased a backpack for daily use. 8 11
• Bought a pink cloak while preparing to infiltrate Aginon's room, then had it recolored black after returning to Beregost. 30 39

Personality

Zhang Yuan is cautious, practical, and highly conscious of his own inexperience. Upon reaching Faerûn, he prioritizes money, shelter, identification, reliable companions, and low-risk work rather than pursuing reckless adventure. 5 11 12 13 He also evaluates threats through his knowledge of games and the Forgotten Realms, though he recognizes that this knowledge is incomplete and potentially unreliable. 10 18 29

He is resourceful when under pressure: he sells foreign currency as art, uses his familiar for covert work, and leverages old game knowledge to locate treasure and possible magic items. 6 25 30 His caution does not prevent impulsiveness; he joins the dangerous Nashkel mission despite fear and later resolves to grow beyond dependence on the auto-battler system. 17 18 49

Despite calling himself a “spellcasting barbarian,” Zhang Yuan is eager to learn the principles behind magic rather than merely use system-provided spell models. His lack of formal magical education frustrates him, but also drives him to seek instruction from Banterley and Tylanthyr. 9 25 26 43 44

Abilities & Skills

Arcane Spellcasting

Zhang Yuan is an Innate Awakener whose initial magical knowledge was installed through the system rather than acquired through study. His template grants material-component-free casting. 3 25 43

• Initial spells: Magic Missile, Mage Armor, Lesser Malison, Grease, Burning Hands, Find Familiar, and Identify. 3
• Learned Sleep through the Mirrorimages' Spell Infusion Ritual. 27 28 29
• Purchased scrolls for Sleep, Charm, Shadow Magic, and Summon Monster I. 24
• Mage Armor creates a protective force field that significantly resists and deflects blades, though it does not fully stop them. 8 9
• Lesser Malison is weak offensively but restores the caster by an equivalent amount. 8
• Sleep can incapacitate groups of enemies, allowing allied soldiers to finish them off. 32
• He initially cannot understand spell construction or transcribe new spells independently; his attempt to learn Shadow Magic from a scroll failed. 9 25 26

DLTCEP Auto-Battler System

The DLTCEP system manifests through a twenty-sided die and the Void Chessboard. After Summon Monster I was imported, it began converting summon spells into a chess-piece summoning system. 2 28

• Energy is earned only when Zhang Yuan or one of his summons personally kills monsters. 42
• Energy can be spent on chess pieces refreshed in the Void Chessboard shop. 29 31 42
• Documented purchases include Tiny, Little, a Drow Archer, Crystal Maiden units, a Goblin Tinkerer, and a Succubus. 28 29 40 42
• Tiny is a sturdy stone golem-like summon with control abilities and is believable to outsiders as an elemental or rock golem. 28 32 43
• Crystal Maiden provides a mana aura, while the Goblin Tinkerer can fire missiles and the Succubus possesses healing magic. 40 42
• His current Summon Monster I limits him to level-one pieces. Upgrading three level-one pieces into a two-star unit would require a third-level summoning spell before it could be summoned. 31 42

Bladesinger Training

Although primarily a mage, Zhang Yuan deliberately trains for melee combat so he will not be helpless when enemies close in. 13 15 49

• Proficient with a longsword and two-weapon fighting. 3
• Received intensive training under Skar, improving his physical strength, footwork, confidence, and willingness to fight. 15 17 18
• Learned Dodge and Roll, an evasive maneuver intended to create distance from melee attackers. 17
• His system records physical growth but does not directly grant combat experience or character levels from kills. 17 22

Familiar Bond

Zhang Yuan summoned Shirley, a magical snow ferret, through Find Familiar. Their bond allows him to sense her emotions and provides him with a subtle strengthening effect. 16

• Shirley is snow-white, fluffy, and notably intelligent. 16
• She only eats meat. 16
• Her small size, stealth, hiding ability, and pickpocketing talent make her useful for reconnaissance and theft. 30
• Zhang Yuan can communicate plans to her through their telepathic link. 30

Tongue of the Planes

The imported system template grants Zhang Yuan automatic comprehension of local speech, allowing him to communicate in Faerûn despite arriving from another world. 5

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Longsword — chosen during initial class creation; Zhang Yuan trains to use it in melee. 3 17
• Ring of Sorcery — found near the Friendly Arm; doubles his spell slots. 25
• Twenty-sided die — the physical focus through which the DLTCEP system and Void Chessboard interface appear. 2 28
• Spell scrolls — purchased Sleep, Charm, Shadow Magic, and Summon Monster I scrolls at a discount. 24
• Swiss Army knife — brought from Earth; used to test the defensive effect of Mage Armor. 5 9
• Mobile phone — brought from Earth; used to photograph Faerûn's night sky and view photos of his parents. 5 22
• Medical alcohol disinfectant — brought from Earth and later used as an unusually potent liquor prize for Bard and Kagan. 5 39

Relationships

• Skar — Captain of Zhang Yuan's Flaming Fist team, mentor in melee training, and a trusted ally who helps him acquire discounted spell scrolls. 13 15 17 24
• Sory — A reliable, slow-witted Flaming Fist warrior who first connects Zhang Yuan with Skar's team. 12 13
• Shirley — Zhang Yuan's snow ferret familiar; they share affection, a magical bond, and telepathic coordination. 16 30
• Wiles — A destitute painter and early guide in Baldur's Gate; Zhang Yuan feeds him and uses his local art-world connections. 6 7 8
• Banterley Mirrorimage — Archmage and Friendly Arm innkeeper who recognizes Zhang Yuan's potential, sells him discounted scrolls, helps arrange the Spell Infusion Ritual, and later agrees to a ten-day research-and-teaching arrangement. 23 26 27 29 47
• Jelana Mirrorimage — Banterley's wife and a priestess who helps conduct the Spell Infusion Ritual because she and Banterley believe Zhang Yuan may be relevant to a prophecy. 27 28
• Tylanthyr — Reclusive Archmage of High Hedge Castle; interested in researching Tiny and offers Zhang Yuan magical resources in exchange for cooperation after his Flaming Fist mission. 43 44
• Bard Sweet Mead — Dwarf ally who guards Zhang Yuan in combat and accompanies him toward High Hedge Castle. 32 39
• Minsc — Swordsman ally who guards Zhang Yuan during the hobgoblin ambush and later travels with him to High Hedge Castle. 32 39 40
• Kagan — A dwarf warrior whose arrogance repeatedly clashes with Zhang Yuan; after Zhang Yuan uses Little to discipline him, they reach a temporary working arrangement. 39 40
• Claude Wolf — Noble collector who buys Zhang Yuan's €20 banknote as art for five gold coins. 6

Story Role / Major Arcs

Arrival in Faerûn

• Zhang Yuan is transported from Earth after attempting to create a DLTCEP-based auto-battler class mod. 2
• He creates a Bladesinger/Mage template, then awakens in Baldur's Gate with no local money, identification, or support network. 3 4 5
• He establishes his first funds by selling a Euro banknote as art and begins learning how to survive in the city. 6 7 8

Joining the Flaming Fist

• Seeking money for housing, Zhang Yuan obtains identification through the Flaming Fist and decides to pursue bounty work. 12
• He joins Skar and Sory's team as a level-one mage, then insists on harsh melee training despite his inexperience. 13 15
• After a month of training, he chooses to accompany the squad on a dangerous mission involving attacks on Nashkel ore convoys. 17 18

Friendly Arm and System Awakening

• At the Friendly Arm, Zhang Yuan meets Banterley Mirrorimage, purchases affordable scrolls, and discovers the Ring of Sorcery through a treasure search. 23 24 25
• The Mirrorimages conduct a costly ritual that teaches him Sleep and triggers the DLTCEP system's summoning function. 27 28 29
• He deploys Tiny and Sleep during a hobgoblin ambush, helping the Flaming Fist defeat the warband. 32

Beregost and High Hedge Castle

• Zhang Yuan returns to Beregost, recruits Bard and Minsc as guards for a journey to High Hedge Castle, and intervenes in Bard's confrontation with Kagan. 39 40
• He expands his chess-piece roster with Crystal Maiden, the Goblin Tinkerer, and the Succubus. 40 42
• At High Hedge Castle, he attracts Tylanthyr's interest by revealing Tiny and negotiates future access to magical texts in exchange for allowing research on the summon. 43 44

Pursuit of Strength

• Zhang Yuan increasingly recognizes that being a summoner alone is insufficient and resolves to improve as both a mage and a fighter. 49
• He seeks divinatory help to locate enemies when conventional scouting proves inadequate, asserting magic's value to the team. 38