A Fire in the East (Inactive)

Game Master Mowque

Xuya, A kitsune ninja tries to assemble support for the lord of Wanshi.


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Welcome to the recruitment for A Fire in the East, my latest Solo game.

This game will take place in Tian Xia, the distant land of mystery, intrigue and open warfare. The land of Minkai, long ruled by independent minded governors (and their samurai servants) has finally spilled over into civil war. Centuries of petty warring have built up to this moment, and every man is suddenly a warlord and the Emperor cast aside.

The new lord of Wanshi is beset on all sides by rivals warlords and governors. Like many of his newly independent brethren he is looking for outside help, from anywhere in Tian Xia to help him secure power and glory in the new chaotic times.

He looks to an agent to bring this aid. The lord is not picky about where this aid comes from, be it foul or fair, as long as it is powerful. Can you provide this aid, through cunning, cleverness and skill?

The game is simple enough. You will be playing an agent of the Lord of Wanshi. You are tasked with bringing outside aid to him, based on your connections and cunning. You can pick any foreign land (some of them listed below) to beg, borrow or steal aid for your lord and master.

You will make the game. Choose to recruit honorable warriors or find rapacious warlords? Promise trade agreements or pay in coin? Rely on holy fervor or seek out connections with dark and dangerous magics?

All entirely up to you and your character!

A poltical game, it will entail you dealing in high courts of power, navigating a web of complicated NPCs (and their own plans) as well as the rigors and trials of battle and assassination.

Interested? Read on!

Game Information Factions:

Tain Xia is made of many regions, many with armies and powers to offer the warlord governors of Minkai. Here are some of them (but not all, feel free to look up in canon for others). Choose one for your entry!

Shokuro: A wayward Minkai state, founded centuries ago by a renegade samurai. Honorable and disciplined, they still keep an active watch over their old homeland.

Bachuan: A communistic state ruled by a matriarchal revolutionary. jealous of outside power, their fervor is renowned however as well as their love of intrigue.

Wanshou: Once a rich rice region, it is now a watery realm ruled by an elder kraken. Loving to play political games the immense beast has populated his land with all sorts of aquatic creatures. Eager to join in regional frays.

Chu-ye: A harsh land ruled by martial spirits known as oni and giant servants. Humans are a mere underclass but the oni would be powerful allies.

Kawnlai: A rising trading nation formed by tengu, those often maligned bird beings. Fearice warriors and clever traders, the tengu of Kawnlai are gaining a new respect among the humans of Tian Xia.

Hawnagott: A rich, prosperous land of poets and art, famed throughout the world for grace and subtlety. Their warriors my be few and untrained by the money and prestige they bring is unmatched. A worthy ally...

Po Li: The last remnant of the ancient empire of Lung Wa which once ruled all of Tian Xia. The old mandarins remain here, endlessly plotting and scheming (and dreaming) of bringing back Imperial power.

There are many others...the Darklands hold untold forces, the high places of the Wall of Heaven or the steaming jungles of Valashami all contain powers that can turn the tide of any war.

Here is a map of Tian Xia to help find other places! MAP HERE

[spoiler= Character Creation] Levels: Starting level is 7, and you will level fairly regularly
Stats: 20 point buy, no stat can be lower than 8 before racial modifications.
Classes: The first note is remember, you will be on your own and required to do poltical/social stuff (as well as the occasional combat)...Core, Base and Hybrid classes are all allowed.
Races: All Core races are allowed without restriction, along with tengu and wayang. If you try and do another race, you better have a very good concept, and keep the fact you are in Tian Xia in mind.

Alignment: Any alignment is allowed, but you have to justify it.

Traits: Two traits of your choice, which must come from sources other than Adventure Paths.

Hit Points: Hit points will be gained at each level equal to ½ class HD +1. You will receive maximum HP for first level.

Starting Gold: WBL

Skills: We will be using the Background skills system. You will be on your own so use these extra skills wisely!

Character Background: Due to the nature of this game (Solo and Poltical), I have a few 'required' background features.

First: Why are in in Tian Xia, most particularly Minkai. It doesn't have to be a political reason but if you aren't playing a native, explain yourself!

Second: What political background do you have? Why did the local governor choose you for this delicate mission?

Third: Where do you plan to go in Tian Xia for aid? As listed above, there are many factions to choose from, some evil some good some strange and inscrutable. What are your connections and why?

What I expect:

-A fully finished statblock (you can hold off on minor gear if you wish). An alias is not required but if you want to make one, it won't hurt your chances.

-Some backstory, with the caveats mentioned above.

-A sentence or two on your views (hopes, wishes, doubts) of a solo game would be very interesting.

Optional Rules:

These are some optional rules this campaign will be using!

Background Skills

Automatic Bonus Progression

Posting and Player Expectations:

This is a solo game, so just you and me. That means the pace should be easy to maintain, and avoid the major pitfall of PBPs. I plan on posting at least once a day, so I hope you are too (this pace is not quite as vital in Solo games).

About Me:

I am a librarian from PA (which is EST timezone). I have GM'd a few PBP games and a few live games. I’ve had a great experience with Solo games on this site, so I hope to add another to the pile! My other players say they greatly enjoy the Solo games and my GM style.

I am big on communication both IC and OOC so expect lots of posts in both Discussion and Gameplay!

Ok, that is everything! A lot of information, I know, but it should help you apply with the best character possible and eliminate surprises. If you have any questions, comments and such, please ask below. I will be following this thread closely, and feedback should be swift.

Recruitment will be open for at least one week so till May 7th. I may do more if nothing tickles my fancy.

Submit something good, I want this game to be something special!

Dark Archive

I am interested in playing. Here is my character...
Assuming I'm approved...

Stats:

Hp 32
Mystery of Time
Curse of Tongues - Celestial, Abysal
Traits - Self Taught Scholar, Precise Treatment.
Languages - Samsaran, Common (Kelish), Elvish, Draconic, Aquan, Auran, Celestial, Sylvan, Ignan, Teran, Abysal.
Str - 10
Dex - 14 (13 + leveling)
Con - 10
Int - 18 (16 + racial)
Wiz - 10 (12 - racial)
Cha - 18 (16 + racial)

Samsaran:
Samsaran Racial Traits
Medium, Normal Speed, Low-Light Vision, Lifebound, Samsaran Magic, Shards of the Past.

LIFEBOUND Samsarans gain a +2 racial bonus on all saving throws made to resist death effects, saving throws against negative energy effects, Fortitude saves made to remove negative levels, and Constitution checks made to stabilize if reduced to negative hit points.

SAMSARAN MAGIC Samsarans with a Charisma score of 11 or higher gain the following spell-like abilities: 1/day—comprehend languages, deathwatch, and stabilize. The caster level for these effects is equal to the samsaran's level.

SHARDS OF THE PAST A samsaran's past lives grant their bonuses on two particular skills. A samsaran chooses two skills—she gains a +2 racial bonus on both of these skills, and they are treated as class skills regardless of what class they actually take.

Seer abilities:
Once per day, Natural Divination (as per Natural Divination in Nature Mystery). Once per day, Gift of Prophecy (As per Auger spell with 90% effectiveness, or as per Divination spell with 90% effectiveness), Once per day, Time Hop.

Spells:
Spells per day:7 1st, 7 2nd, 5 3rd.
Spells known:10 0th, 7 1st, 5 2nd, 2 3rd.
0th - Create Water, Detect Magic, Detect Poison, Guidance, Light, Mending, Purify Food And Drink, Read Magic, Resistance, Stabilize.
1st - CLW (get all cure spells free), Forbid Action, Know the Enemy, Recharge Innate Magic, Sun Metal, Summon Monster I, Air Bubble, Obscuring Mist.
2nd - CMW, Death Knell, Sentry Skull, Share Language, Find Traps, Weapon of Awe.
3rd - CSW, Nap Stack, Dispel Magic

Skills:
Knowledge Arcana 12, Knowledge Religion 12, Knowledge Planes 12, Knowledge History 12, Knowledge Local 12, Perception 10, Appraise 12, Linguistics 12, Spellcraft 12, Diplomacy 12, Sense Motive 13, Heal 13.

Feats:
Point Blank Shot, Rapid Shot, Precise Shot, Combat Expertise, Improved Called Shot

Fluff:
Teret 'En Narn Nowe started this life with memories of a past his current body had not lived...but he lived it. He knew he had been that path. Choosing to devote his being to study and knowledge at all cost...he had forsaken all other pursuits and delved into the art of divining. After time, he grew to desire a knowledge of Time itself. He knew he would one day come back to another body...but he didn't want to have to die to continue his research. Maybe if he succeeded in his studies into the magics of Time and the mysteries it contained...maybe he could stop aging, never have to worry about passing away only to wait for reincarnation...he would cheat death to continue his pursuit of knowledge. Through his studies, gained the ability to contact a deity also devoted to the pursuit of knowledge at all costs...Nethis. This God had a very similar demeanor to Teret, not so much "cold and unfeeling" as much as "devoid of emotional attachment to choices necessary for the pursuit of knowledge at all costs". Curiosity with no boarder, no thought toward the social implications others might suggest are attached to his deeds in pursuit of knowledge...this is a bit what he was like...but there was more...it just never really showed.

If I missed something, let me know.

The Exchange

Would the game be open to a pair? I love the idea of a game in Tian Xia, but equally playing with another person can be fun :)

I'll be submitting something soon. Probably either a mesmerist or a vigilante.


I must say the depth with which you describe the setting and circumscribe the exposition is commendable. Maybe it’s your well-worked literacy in use! Bibliophile or not, as a teacher from Michigan (EST also), I see enough alignment of writing to make communication quite halcyon.

Presently, I'm looking at an ambitious lordling well-connected both by tongue and blood, though I have two questions for you before I endeavor to complete an elaborate story:

1. Though the game is solo, is leadership a feat to be eschewed?

2. Not completely disconnected to the above question, would this path be permissible and viable?

Liberty's Edge

Sorry for submitting from so many aliases - I'm planning to play an aasimar mesmerist/rogue. Can I select an alternative heritage and an alternative racial trait? If so can I pick a trait or roll a few times and see what comes up?

This sounds like a lovely idea and I'm hoping I can submit something good enough to get in!


Boy am I interested! I'll have something up tomorrow


This sounds like bard to me. Although I might want to run a non-standard magus instead. Or an inquisitor.

Dark Archive

I got my stats wrong
Str 8 (-2 points)
Dex 12 (2 points)
Con 10 (2 points) (12-racial)
Int 18 (10 points) (16+racial)
Wiz 10 (-2 points) (8+racial)
Cha 17 (10 points) (16+lvl)
Also...

Fluff:
Having studied as much as he has, Teret was asked for his knowledge in languages and the divine to be used in the lands of Tian Xia. His understanding of the trade language as well as the language of the scholars were the main thing they asked for. He thought his knowledge of fey and their languages as well as his understanding of the summoning planes might come in somewhere. He was a reincarnated scholar, he knew his knowledge would have opportunity to expand on this mission. Taking a moment to call upon his deity, Nethis, he asks for him to tell Teret about the prospects he can expect on this quest. The response was, as always, slightly cryptic and somewhat confusing.
"As you travel across this vast land,
Through heated jungles, scorching sand,
You might see a moment of prescience,
A glimpse of futures, pasts and presents.
You'll find those less learned yet strong,
That your forethought might be so wrong.
Meeting minds that are open yet so full,
Their bodies, weak, no strength of a bull.
This might be your most ultimate surprise,
It may also lead to your final demise.
Take this path and you'll very soon see,
None halt knowledge though strong they be."
Hearing this concerning, confusing, comforting, conference of knowledge and advice from the God that, comparatively, favored him, Teret found the courage he needed to set out toward the new land he had yet to see. Setting out on his journey, he finds the foretold terrain, and even a great brute...but due to lack of intelligence, he was able to outsmart the lummox and behead him...using his newly learned spell to keep watch with this fresh severed head as he slept through the night. Continuing on his journey, he finds the land he was called to...the land of Tian Xia. So very different, maybe it wasn't going to be simple to find his contact for this quest. He was to meet the personal scribe to the new Lord, Wanshi. Being briefed on the local customs and the local state of affairs, while very political and mundane, offered him a little insight how his charismatic abilities could be best used to aid the Lord during the feudal and futile war. *Sigh* "War never seems to end...it's just the pieces that change...and it is only their look that is different. I guess I am now to be a piece in this battle for land that was here long before those that battle for it. I only hope that I can have a moment of peace to study when I need it...if I am to be stuck in meetings the entire time, not able to take in the available knowledge in this new land, I will be less than happy. My pursuit of the secrets of Time and Age will wait only so long before they matter little." Hoping the jittery man he saw approaching him was the one he was seeking.


Tyrek Archaos wrote:
Would the game be open to a pair? I love the idea of a game in Tian Xia, but equally playing with another person can be fun :)

I've done pair games before and they work well (over the table) but I hesitate to do it here because we are all random people. I don't wan to have to worry about if the play styles/posting between two people are compatible on top of everything else.

Also, solo games means the PC can drive the action totally with no compromise (like happens in groups games). I like that aspect and a pair game would lose that.

But maybe some day with a slightly more fixed setting....who knows?

Denenor wrote:


1. Though the game is solo, is leadership a feat to be eschewed?

2. Not completely disconnected to the above question, would this path be permissible and viable?

1. Sure

2. No problem
I look forward to seeing your character. Building a network of allies and loyal NPCs can easily be the main meat of the game, if you wish.

Isabel Rhelian wrote:
Sorry for submitting from so many aliases - I'm planning to play an aasimar mesmerist/rogue. Can I select an alternative heritage and an alternative racial trait? If so can I pick a trait or roll a few times and see what comes up?

Going to be honest and say I don't know much about the mesmerist, but I'll say yes. It is impossible to be over-powered in a solo game. One of my main tasks is keeping you alive...

ElegantlyWasted wrote:
Boy am I interested! I'll have something up tomorrow

Look forward to it. What class/race you thinking?

Olaf the Holy wrote:
This sounds like bard to me. Although I might want to run a non-standard magus instead. Or an inquisitor.

All excellent choices. I've never run a game with a inquisitor PC before.

Teret 'En Narn Nowe wrote:

I got my stats wrong

So where do you plan to got to rally support? How do you plan to do it?

To everyone, sorry the OP had a messed up tag. Very annoying. Character creation rules are important so be sure to look at it!


I've a question. How much is this supposed to resemble a wushu martial arts movie?

I just saw Sword of Destiny yesterday, and all the characters I'm thinking of playing borrow themes or style from that one. If I'm totally off the mark here, that'd be awkward.


Olaf the Holy wrote:

I've a question. How much is this supposed to resemble a wushu martial arts movie?

I just saw Sword of Destiny yesterday, and all the characters I'm thinking of playing borrow themes or style from that one. If I'm totally off the mark here, that'd be awkward.

I just saw Sword of Destiny as well. You can embrace that genre as much as you like. It is a genre I enjoy, if that matters.

Grand Lodge

Presenting Sophia

"Barbarian 1 (Urban) / Alchemist 6 (Reanimator)
Medium Human / Humanoid (Human)
Init +4; Senses Perception +10
==DEFENSE==
AC 14, touch 14, flat-footed 10 (+4 dex)
hp 56 (6d8+1d12+14)
Fort +8, Ref +9, Will +2
==OFFENSE==
Spd 30 ft/x4
Melee Rapier +10 (1d6+4) 18-20/x2 CM +1
Special Attacks Bomb [9] (PFAPG 26), Bomb Damage (PFUM 18)
==STATISTICS==
Str 8, Dex 19, Con 12, Int 16, Wis 10, Cha 10
BAB +5, CMB +4, CMD +18
Feats Armor Proficiency (LIGHT) (PFCR 118), Brew Potion (PFCR 119), Pirhana Strike, Shield Proficiency (PFCR 133), Throw Anything (PFCR 135), Toughness (PFCR 135), Weapon Finesse (PFCR 136), Weapon Focus (Rapier) (PFCR 136-137)
Skills Acrobatics +10, Bluff +9 [w/ persons attracted to you +10], Craft (alchemy) +15, Diplomacy +9 [Gather Information +10, w/ fey +9, w/ nobility +9, w/ nobility attracted to you +9, w/ persons attracted to you +10], Disable Device +14, Knowledge (arcana) +7, Knowledge (geography) +4, Knowledge (history) +4, Knowledge (local) +7, Knowledge (nature) +7, Knowledge (nobility) +7, Linguistics +10, Perception +10, Sense Motive +8 [Intercept a secret message +8], Stealth +11
SU Alchemy (PFAPG 26), Extracts (PFAPG 26), Discovery: Tumor Familiar, Sponteanous Healing, Healing Touch (PFAPG26), Mutagen (PFAPG 26)
Traits Charming (Social) (PFAPG 330), Prostitute (Religion) (PFCo: FoP)
Languages Common, Draconic, Dwarven, Elven, Minatan, Minkaian, Tien, Varisian

(1 feat left to choose)

Sophia was born to her mother as her third child. His birth however wasn’t the blessing omen most people would receive. Isilda Coric was a lower noblewoman in the Varisa who was in an arranged marriage that proved unfruitful. Unknown that it was her husband who couldn’t conceive, he turned against her in a violent way. Isilda eventually fell into the arms of an other man, Talathel Mertan. This affair wound up with carrying his child. When the child was born, her husband was furious and sent her away. Talathel followed her to Nybor, and they both named the boy Kyras. 4 years later, they had a girl who was named Liadla. As time passed, both Isilda and Talathel began to make plans for them to leave Nybor. However, once they had decided to act on their plans, they discovered she was pregnant once again. 10 years after Liadla, Sophia was born.

Upon Sophia birth, Talathel made his own assumption that the child wasn’t his. He figured that because she had done it once before, Isilda had an affair against him and he left, leaving her and their children behind. In truth though, the child was his. Sophia was to be born, however Isilda’s very distant. SHe was born human, but after Talathel left.

Not wanting to face her "shame" Sopiha was given away to a local temple of Calistria where she spend most of here young years. Her natural gist for languages and her bright mind were more quickly put to work more so than her body. In a very short time she was the one greetings foreign clients or making potions to help with anyone's health.

A few years into this life she saved enough money to by passage to the Dragon Isle. A place far away and drasticaly different. A place the dream for many years while living in the temple.

Personality: Aspiring Merchant Prince with a touch of Yakuza Princess

Analysis: Sophia plays into the social / diplomat/ translator theme. Underneath that she can handle all the spying / undead minion yakuza coercition. She is even not too shabby in a fight herself
----
Running a game on these boards for the past 3 years and playing in a few other i can attest to the requirement of regular play


I'm thinking Human Bladebound Magus 4/Empiricist Investigator 3. That should cover a rather broad range of abilities and skills. In solo games I much prefer having a lot of versatility, rather than overspecializing. Empiricist Investigator (with the Student of Philosophy trait) will also let me use Int for a wide variety of important skills (Sense Motive, Diplomacy, Perception, Disable Device), meaning I'm a bit less MAD. Magus is a built in gish, so he'll be both a decent caster and decent warrior, and empiricist investigator will give him a ton of skills as well as some alchemist extracts for a ton of versatility.
If it's kosher, I'll probably take both the Additional Traits feat and the Deadly Agility feat to shore up some of his weaknesses. He's going to be mostly Dex and Int based


Algar Lysandris wrote:
Presenting Sophia

I like her personality. What means do you intend to employ and where do you plan to go?

ElegantlyWasted wrote:


If it's kosher, I'll probably take both the Additional Traits feat and the Deadly Agility feat to shore up some of his weaknesses. He's going to be mostly Dex and Int based

Go ahead, if you like. I generally find feats better then traits myself.

For everyone, be sure to tell me where you plan to go, and how you plan on doing it. You'll be driving the game not me so I am curious on where you intend to go.

Dark Archive

My battle plan summery...

Hwangott:
In order to gain Hawnagott as an ally to the Lord that summoned me here I would rely on my knowledge of poets and their language (the form of common I speak, as noted, is Kelish, the language of poets and scholars), hoping to gain favor so we can have their merchants and money as allied resources.

Kwanlai:
So that we can have Kawnlai as an ally in this civil war, we will appeal to their merchant area and attempt to barter future trade to negotiate allied resources. Since they are eager to join the fray, it should be easy to have them understand success in numbers, I only hope they can see reason with the allying of these cities.

Shokuro:
Since the Shokuro city is made up of samurai, who are honor driven, I'd wager they are likely to understand unity and duty...if needed, I am sure we can purchase temporary support in their army, but I hope we can gain an ally in these honor bound warrior people.

Wanshao:
The great and powerful Wanshao city...a great possible ally. Since I speak aquan, I will need to do everything I can to keep things civil and retain reason in negotiations so that logic will prevail over the innate ways of the large beast that rules the land.

Bachuan:
Since Bachuan is a people lead by a woman, as I understand it...I am sure they wish to keep themselves out of anyones authoritative grasp. I'll speak to their desire for sovereignty and suggest that being an ally until the civil war is over is in their best interest.

Chu-Ye:
The city of Chu-Ye, being a town that does not favor humans, I might gain favor if I appeal to their feelings of superiority and express humility...if not, by the time I get to them, I can command respect by taking down a favored warrior of theirs in open combat and request that they become an ally with such powerful leadership.

Other:
Going to the dark lands seems dangerous at best, I will likely head that direction after gaining an ally or five.
Going to the jungle area seems interesting, so may go to explore what it has in store after I get my feet wet.

Summery:
All in all, I feel that many can become an ally as long as they want to see reason. If they can not see reason...power must bee shown, this way they will not fight against our endeavor to unite the land. Some may need force...others may be intelligent enough to know what is best for their people. I may not be conventional, following the wrote ways of the past all the time, but I'm neither good nor evil (Chaotic Neutral).

If this plan intrigues you, I'd love to Role Play it out with you. Pretty excited to show you the awesome abilities of the Samsaran Seer Oracle Mystery of Time Curse of Tongues.
Leadership:
I plan to take Leadership at my next level...it wouldn't make sense to take it now as I am only just now arriving in the area. After succeeding in gaining an ally or three, I can see gaining a cohort and some followers (plus I have high charisma and at lvl 9 (minimum lvl I could take it) my leadership score would be 13 minimum. That would grant me a high level cohort (I totally need a tank) and a small bunch of low level followers)


GM Mowque,

I appreciate your reply!

If you don't mind, please give the foundation for my submission's story a read. It is not fully complete, for I would need to work with you on the final bits. Let me give you the summary first:

Mai Yoshiro is a youth with family connections to various pieces of the continent as well as a few races. Initially raised in an honest mercantile lifestyle, he is hooked into the undermarkets and seeks to free himself from the dark life of illegal dealings. Ironically, his path to meet this desire is by forging true friendships and intimacy he never experienced in his youth, creating a circle of connections powerful enough to break the cycle of crime. As material as the stakes in Minkai may be for the provinces there, success in the region carries with it emotional freedom for Yoshiro.

Mai Yoshiro's Background (beginning):
Born in the forests of Jinin, Yoshiro was the culmination of numerous cultures and bloodlines. It would take the boy years to learn of his heritage though, and determining the roots of his ancestry would continue to serve as a driving force later in his life.

His mother, Jeanne, was an Elven tailor, known for her expertise in weaving silks. Beautiful, intricate patterns adorned her creations, and their feeling upon one’s skin was as otherworldly as their appearance. It was no secret she imbued her creations with benign magic meant to augment the comfort and appeal of the garments. Beauty was always a face of her life, and her worship of the Western goddess, Shelyn, was testament to this fact. Yoshiro inherited the natural beauty his mother exhibited, though this mattered less to the community around him. Unlike the vast majority of the people around him, he did not come from pure elven stock; rather, his mother had fallen for a travelling merchant: Toan Hao.. The yang to her yin, he was a coarse and abrasive Tian-Dian man in appearance, though quite civil beneath the surface. Yet appearances meant much to peers during one’s youth, and Yoshiro struggled to be accepted for his interracial nature. His father did not stay after planting his seed, moving along his route through Amanandar, Kwanlai, and through Naikang Bay to his home of Xa Hoi. Yoshiro would not meet him for many years.

Though nobody pushed for his exile, the youth often explored the borders of the towns and country. He was involved with more than one skirmish with the hobgoblins of Kaoling, and his knack for communication proved a boon to selling his mother’s wares in New Oppara during the occasional venture. It was during these ventures he would see the blue Samsarans from Zi Ha about the cosmopolitan city, and their unique appearance was easy to recall. During numerous trips during his adolescence, he saw one of these azure strangers watching him from a distance. Yoshiro thought little of it the first few times, but when he realized it was the same person, he confronted her. The natural salesman he was, he attempted to make an appeal:
”Miss, are you interested in buying one of these robes? I notice you’ve been eyeing our collecting, and if there’s a particular taste you have, my mother can surely make you one with time.”

To his surprise, the woman laughed. What’s so funny?

”No, no my child.” She placed a hand on his shoulder. ”It’s just reassuring to see you are well.”

Yoshiro smiled at her in confusion, not wanting to upset her by removing her hand. It felt oddly warm. ”I don’t understand. We are but the two of us, but we do quite well –“

”Oh, you truly are your father’s son, always focused on the money!”

With that he took a step back. He’d always wanted to know more about his father, but Jeanne had been tight-lipped with many of the details.

”My father? How do you know him? How do you know me?.. And, you’re a samsaran.”

With each question, Yoshiro became more confused. In his envelopment with the woman, he’d also not noticed his mother approach him from behind.

”Yoshi, this woman must have you confused.” She looked to the visitor. ”Now please, if you won’t want to buy anything, he has work to do.”

With that, the samsaran extended her hand that had been removed from Yoshiro’s shoulder to Jeanne. ”I believe this is the Xijan greeting?” In New Oppara, the handshake was common. ”My name is Nalita, and I am Yoshiro’s grandmother. Hear me out.” She held up her hand in well-predicted anticipation of protests from Jeanne. ”Mai Toan Hao is the boy’s father, your tryst. I am his mother. Jinin and this city are close to my home in the mountains North of here, and I like to check on my blood every so often to make sure it is well.” Her face turned into a look of concern briefly. ”Toan Hao is a quick-tempered man, and I’m sorry he did not stay with you to help you raise Yoshi. I tried to help where I could without interfering, for you are his mother and I did not want you to disrupt your bond. You deserve his adoration for how well you raised him. Now in his dawn of manhood, I beseech you: May a grandmother be a part of her grandson’s life?”

It turned-out Nalita was a powerful mage, and the many years she spent in reflection in Zi Ha had allowed her easy of divinations to find and track the two of them. They spent a few days exchanging pleasantries and learning about one another – Yoshiro most of all. He hadn’t understood the life cycle of the mysterious race, nor did he understand the import of his father’s heritage – due in no small part because it wasn’t revealed to him: The silver irises his eyes possessed were due the Tian-Dian heritage, and their coloration gave his father a high social status in the Southern country. Inundated with the new information, Yoshiro was somewhat excited. Maybe I can meet him. I could visit his business, learn a trade … make some friends. Though he wasn’t hated, the teen (in half-elf time) was lonely. New Oppara was the only place when he had the opportunity to connect with others who didn’t immediately distance themselves from his heritage … and instead appreciated it. Indeed, while his mother had been selling silks by day, he often discarded his at night to bed someone. Partially for experimenting in pleasures of the flesh, Yoshiro still felt empty afterwards. Maybe I can have a lasting connection by visiting my father.

So it was Nalita arranged a visit one month, and Toan Hao arrived in New Oppara on one of his caravan ventures. Jeanne did not attend, for she said while no hate was harbored for Yoshio’s father, she did not want to “rekindle wet wood”. She did give her blessing for the youth to apprentice with him though if he was to check-in with her via Nalita. Toan Hao was initially hesitant to take-on his son, but when Nalita nudged him with information of what a salesman he was, he acquiesced.

Their ventures were successful, and they accrued wealth at an ever-increasing rate. The Mai family name was power and prestige in Xa Hoi – and beyond. His father had an estate and servants in Ngon Hoa, his mansion on one of the higher towers in the metropolis. The architecture was masterful to behold, but the harsh system of laws was intimidating to the now-adult Yoshiro. His father specialized in raw trade goods as opposed to his mother’s finished products, so there was less haggling over a few coins per purchase and more over unit rates – for sales and labor. Seeing the human cost of labor matured Yoshiro, and he found it difficult to connect to people who were so clearly his “lessers” in the city. He didn’t think of them that way, but the obvious class difference was too awkward to overcome.

The pair had occasionally made their way to Goka, the gateway to the West. The trip was long, and Yoshiro had never explicitly been told why they went there, but he was set apart from his father as a trial of sorts – seeing what a businessman he could be on his own accord. He never knew exactly what his father did during the few days they stayed apart, but he enjoyed himself. The city was more cosmopolitan, people more open to new connections. If only I could stay here … though the comforts of the mansion were nice…

During one such visit, there was a knock at his chamber door one night. His paramour had been woken by the sound as well, and an annoyed Yoshio went to the door. It was his father. The coarse voice was sterner than he’d heard it in some time. ”Dress and come quickly. Keep your voice.” The man shut the door, and after a quick apology, Yoshiro donned his clothes and followed. Down dark streets and alleys, the pair reached a shady establishment. His father spoke in a tongue he did not know, and a dark-skinned man opened a latched door. Hallways and staircases abounded, and the kin descended numerous levels into a basement lair of sorts.

What is this place?

Men with scars and blades stood outside a door, though with a hand signal from his father, they opened the ornate portal for him. At the end of the dark chamber sat a plump man at a thick, heavy desk. It was made out of some unusual material Yoshiro couldn’t place.

The old man smiled. ”Ah, this is him? Yes, very good.”

Toan Hao turned to Yoshiro. ”Like you, I did not meet my father for some time. It wasn’t because he didn’t know he had a son though; it was because of the danger in connecting himself to him. You’re ready for this now though. You’ll do the family business proud.”

”Mai Huu Tai, my grandson. I do complicated work for the city. You’ve got a knack for business, your father says. But I was wondering if you have a penchant for politics…”

Grand Lodge

DM said wrote:
What means do you intend to employ:

anything going from seduction, to straight diplomacy, bargaining, spying, extortion, to assassination (if need be)

DM said wrote:
where do you plan to go:

Behind every throne and every great men stands a woman who is the power in the shadow ;)


Dotting! Love eastern type games. Let me see what I come out with :)


Denenor wrote:

GM Mowque,

I appreciate your reply!

If you don't mind, please give the foundation for my submission's story a read. It is not fully complete, for I would need to work with you on the final bits. Let me give you the summary first:

Very interesting. I have a soft spot for merchant-y characters (my first ever PC was a merchant turned wizard). I will also admit I like your writing style.

What class are you thinking?

Algar Lysandris wrote:


Behind every throne and every great men stands a woman who is the power in the shadow ;)

Interesting, to not talking directly with the powers that be, eh?

The Archlich wrote:
Dotting! Love eastern type games. Let me see what I come out with :)

Look forward to seeing your entry!


How are you with third party?

I'm especially interested in Path of War. It makes for very thematic warriors.


Olaf the Holy wrote:

How are you with third party?

I'm especially interested in Path of War. It makes for very thematic warriors.

Sorry but I don't like it. I don't know it well enough, it is often unbalanced and some of the themes it introduces I'm not a fan of flavor wise.

Sorry!


I've played Tychi before, so I'd have to rebuild him at level 7. Ideally he eventually has a companion, a taciturn black unicorn named Nike (although it seems you have said that Leadership is not allowed earlier?).

Tychi Background:

ychi was born to a very poor Tengu couple in the Forest of Spirits in Tian Xia. The couple were not in any way special, they were typical Tengu, living day to day, feather to feather, and trying to survive. They failed, falling to Oni but leaving their strange white-feathered son Tychi behind. The small tengu walked out of the Forest of Spirits a few days later, hungry, but with clear eyes in his young head.
Two days later, he walked up to the gates of a monastery, populated by the Brothers of the Four Truths. The four truths, were, of course, the four elements, Earth, Wind, Fire, Water. The almost exclusively human monks had no intention of taking in a filthy Tengu, much less a freakish white one.
That was, until the gates simply fell off their hinges, allowing the Tengu to simply stroll in. He walked in and to the small temple, his eyes open but unseeing. The child knelt in the temple, at the exact center of the four elemental altars. For 24 hours, the child just knelt there, unmoving, before finally falling over on his side, unconscious.

Even the xenophobic monks were not going to deny one who the elements obviously wanted in the monastery, and so the child was cared for and fed, until his eyes were clear and bright again.

For the next 10 years, the Tengu child trained with the monks, learning every lesson without complaint. Finally, on his 10th year in the monastery, he had completed his training and presented himself to the temple altars, to find out his fate.

If the Fire Alter began to show flames, he was to be one of the Warriors of the Temple. If the Water Alter dripped water, then he was to be among the Guardians, those who go forth and provide succor to the common folk. If a pebble fell from the Earth Altar, then he was to be a Teacher, remaining in the Monastery, teaching others. Finally, if the Air Altar begin to make the sounds of air flowing through it's reeds, he was to travel the world as a wandering monk.

The monks were shocked when, after 24 hours of meditation, the Fire Altar burst into a 6 foot pillar of fire, the Water Altar flooded the floor with water, the Earth Altar shattered, and the Wind Altar gave off a shriek of woodwind powerful enough to deafen those standing too close to the temple. In the center of the chaos knelt the Tengu, calm and listening to the cacophany around him.

When it finally died down, the Tengu stood up, and left the temple. He bowed before his elders, and informed them he had heard the voices of the Four Truths, and that they had told him what he was to do.


If leadership is allowed, Nike is Tychi's cohort. Nike would be a 4th level character from her race, with one level of Paladin to make her a 5th level character (and 5th level cohort).

Background:

Nike was a typical unicorn, her pelt white as snow. She was happy with her lot in life, attempting to purify a tainted forest in Ustalev with her mate Lochi, and their filly Minta.
Then a necromancer came to their forest, bent on undoing all she and her small family had done to retrieve the wood from evil. The necromancer captured Minta, and even as her parents fought through undead hordes, he slit the filly's throat and raised up her corpse as an abomination to send against her parents.
Lochi, lost in grief, slaughtered hundreds of undead, Nike barely able to keep up with him, but even in his anger, he was unable to attack his daughter's corpse, and the zombie drove her tainted horn into her father's chest, bursting his heart. Even as Nike's world fell apart, and the necromancer and his zombie horde closed in, she began to despair, almost giving up.

It was then that the horde was hit from the side by a great red beast with an equally red rider. It took Nike a moment to realize they were dark red with blood from the zombies they had been slaughtering. The rider and his beast fought their way through the undead, toward the necromancer. Body parts lept in the air as the strange whip like sword the rider used lopped body parts from zombies with abaondon.

Finally though, the great red beast was felled by Minta's tainted horn, just as her father had been. But then the rider was leaping over Minta's body, and his whip like sword removed her head from her body, ending her torment.

Nike, barely alive, was ready to die at that point. Until the rider inexplicably leapt to her back, urging her to stand with his knees. And then a strange sort of energy flooded into her, returning strength to her weakened limbs. Nike and the mysterious rider rose as one, and visited death and destruction upon the undead horde around them, slaughtering the foul creatures to the last one. Finally, Nike's horn took the necromancer in the heart, just as Minta's had taken Lochi's, and the mysterious rider's strange weapon took the necromancer's head with a flick of his wrist.

The forest went deadly silent, and Nike stood, head lowered, breathing hard, blood trailing freely down her body as the strange humanoid male sat astride her back. Eventually the creature slid from her, careful not to injure her further. He began to apologize to her for not being there sooner, for allowing her mate and daughter to die. Even as he apologized, he retrieved a potion of healing and poured it into a bowl for her to consume.

The strange humanoid tenderly removed the bridle and saddle from the great red beast, which she finally realized was a horse that was past it's prime, a once great warrior slowed by age, who had finally died in battle, as it had lived it's life.

Nike's life changed that day. Slowly her coat began to darken from the sadness in her heart, and her carefree ways were replaced with the steely determination to root out evil with implacable will.

When Nike and Tychi left those woods, there were three graves in a blessed grove. And Nike wore a saddle and bridle, her gray pelt a contrast to the white feathers of her rider. A contrast that, over the next 10 years, increased as Nike's pelt became the dark black she now wears.

They have since followed the four truths, the elements leading them from place to place, from evil to evil, always further and further along, to right wrongs and bring peace and harmony back to that which has none.


Tychi wrote:
I've played Tychi before, so I'd have to rebuild him at level 7. Ideally he eventually has a companion, a taciturn black unicorn named Nike (although it seems you have said that Leadership is not allowed earlier?).

No, Leadership is allowed (although that isn't my personal style).

I like the backstory writing style. A monk eh? A tengu monk, to boot. That is an unusual build. Where do you hope to go to find allies and how do you propose to convince them to join your side?


Tychi (and Nike) are the quintessential Traveling Samurai Savior types. They go from place to place, saving those who need saving, fighting those who need to be defeated, all for the Greater Good. They practically have a chorus following them around. :)

Tychi gains followers by leading, and being a hero. He doesn't so much beg people to follow him, as he does simply provide a shining example and convince people to follow him because of his Honor. A very eastern type thing. Nike, on the other hand, has been known to browbeat those who have lapsed into working hard to recover their honor.

As to why they'd be working for this lord, he would have to be an honorable lord with the good of his people at heart. The four spirits would have led Tychi to him. Nike would, if she detected no evil on him, want to help as evil will try to take down a good honorable man, and then she can kill the evil. She's very big on killing evil or redeeming those that can be (and messily killing those that can't). :)

Tychi would probably be getting assistance by assisting others, helping a neighbor out with an issue, and then getting their pledge of assistance in return for Wanshi. If a village in Wanshi's territory had issues with an oni band, he'd deal with the Oni band directly, either attacking them, or convincing them to move to an area of an enemy who was threatening to attack Wanshi. If he heard of a nearby warlord whose child had been taken, he'd go after the kidnappers and return the child to the warlord, seeking his alliance with Wanshi.

Hope that makes sense.

EDIT : Also, given his background is that he's from Minkai originally, he would likely have an immediate 'in' with the local Monks in MinKai and could call on them right off the bat.

Grand Lodge

DM said wrote:
Interesting, to not talking directly with the powers that be, eh

Of course she would, as anyrole would seem appropriate to talk to them. Envoy / ambassador / woman of certain sexual expertise, to a certain degree a woman of knowledge.

It it just that she would rather not be the figurehead.

(think of it like the Cardinal de Richelieu to King Louis XIII)


Tychi wrote:
Tychi (and Nike) are the quintessential Traveling Samurai Savior types. They go from place to place, saving those who need saving, fighting those who need to be defeated, all for the Greater Good. They practically have a chorus following them around. :)

I want to make this clear. This game is about going to foreign parts of Tian Xia and assembling support to send to your lord and master, Wanshi. Combat will take a second seat to high level political games, intrigue and other issues. Odds are, you won't be dealing with local kidnapping bandits. You have a realm to save! Leave that petty stuff to the adventurers. (That said, the monk connection is an interesting one).

Algar Lysandris wrote:
DM said wrote:
Interesting, to not talking directly with the powers that be, eh

Of course she would, as anyrole would seem appropriate to talk to them. Envoy / ambassador / woman of certain sexual expertise, to a certain degree a woman of knowledge.

It it just that she would rather not be the figurehead.

(think of it like the Cardinal de Richelieu to King Louis XIII)

Interesting. Of course Richelieu was a ruler while you will be negotiating to rulers (and other power brokers). A bit of a different dynamic, of course.

Liberty's Edge

Hi - this is my official submission for Isabel and her brother Sebastian. At the moment I'm taking Leadership at lvl 7 to bring Sebastian along as a cohort (Either Samurai or Dashing Swordsman - I'll stat him if I'm selected and you don't mind). If you'd prefer I don't do this then I can change things (feat and traits mostly).

Crunch is in the profile, I used the fractional system from Pathfinder Unchained as I think it makes a lot more sense for multi-classing. Again, if you do not like I can change :). Background is posted below and in profile. Hope you enjoy. :)

Background:
Isabel, Princess of the Sun, Daughter of the Celestial Dragon and Rose of the World, is the fifth and best loved daughter of His Celestial Majesty, Emperor Chontzu. She and her twin brother Sebastian were unique amongst the emperor’s many children for their stunning golden looks, so different from the appearance of Tian natives. When they were born the Emperor was delighted at this omen from the heavens and declared himself blessed by the Celestial powers. In an unprecedented move he allowed the children’s mother, a favored concubine from distant Avistan, to name the children and she named them for her parents.

Both children were beautiful, with blonde hair and vivid green eyes and it soon became apparent that their mental and physical abilities matched their looks. As young children both took to dancing with great joy, although as Sebastian was increasingly schooled in sword-play and martial matters Isabel continued to practice alone. They delighted in playing practical jokes on the palace servants, the concubines and their half-brothers and sisters in the Imperial nursery. Their cleverness and supernaturally innocent faces meant that the two of them could talk their way out of almost anything and even their father, the Celestial Emperor, could rarely find it in his heart to chastise them.

Although far from the oldest of the Emperor’s children Chontzu loved his ‘angel children’ dearly and ensured that they had all the training and teaching they could handle – which was a prodigious amount. Sebastian, on his sixth birthday, was given his first katana and began training in the military arts and the ways of the Samurai warrior caste. He showed a talent for strategy early on and gradually the discipline of the military began to temper his youthful exuberance into a more controlled charisma.

Isabel meanwhile proved an exceptional student. Almost anything her tutors attempted to teach her was a success, with the notable exception of animals. Although a competent rider Isabel never developed any knack for horses or any other animals and she was easily surpassed by her sisters whenever the Imperial Family rode together. Her capacity for knowledge however was superb – she loved reading books of all sorts and was soon fluent in a number on Tian dialects as well as Celestial. Her passion however was dance and she would spend hours dancing, either to music or simply to the music of her own heart. More than one spectator, watching her dance, commented that watching her was like watching a fire in the night, hypnotic and entrancing.

When Isabel was twelve her oldest sister, nursing years of resentment at her prettier younger sister dispatched assassins from her husband’s kingdom of Lingshen, who broke into the Imperial palace and attempted to assassinate Isabel. She was saved by Sebastian who alerted the Imperial Guard and stood guard over her while the guards dealt with the assassins. The next day Sebastian petitioned his father to have his sister, and all the Imperial children, trained in combat. The emperor acceded but Isabel proved extremely reticent for teacher after teacher until one day she entered the training room to find two of her guard fighting furiously while a middle-aged woman sat calmly by the wall.

The woman was Lia-Xing, the pirate queen of Minata who had disbanded his vast pirate armada in exchange for a pardon, nobility and vast estates. In the pirate queen Isabel had finally found a tutor who suited her. Lia-Xing poured scorn on the various Samurai who attempted to teach Isabel. ”They are great warriors child, but they have the imagination of a mainmast. We are women my dear, we cannot hack at each other as the men do. We have our own strengths and these are what we must use to survive.”

Under Lia-Xing Isabel learned much, not just the formal styles of swordplay, but lock picking, techniques of stealth and how to use her more feminine weapons to get what she wanted without fighting. The pirate queen filled a hole in Isabel’s life that she had never noticed before and it was with great regret that Isabel parted ways with her upon her twenty-forth birthday when Lia-Xing retired from court.

The Emperor, by this time, was dying and Lia-Xing was not the only noble who retreated to their own estates. The atmosphere throughout the Celestial Court was extraordinarily tense and Isabel was thankful for Sebastian’s absence, leading a company of Samurai on Minkai’s westen border where she had begged him to stay. Having grown up entirely within the court her talents for the cut and thrust of court-intrigue exceeded her twin’s as surely as his swordplay exceeded hers. It was this innate understanding of politics that led Isabel to stay by his father constantly through his last hours, even remaining with him for the two days immediately following his death, when imperial law required the body to be secluded whilst it was prepared for burial. By doing so she removed herself from the bloody power struggle that erupted within the Celestial Palace as the sons of the Emperor descended upon each other and fought for the right to succeed to their father’s throne.

When the doors of the Emperor’s bedroom were finally opened Shigure, her eldest brother, led the mourning. With support from his own brother Tushiko, Shigure had neutralized the Imperial Guard, purged the concubines and defeated a coalition of noblemen led by the Emperor’s forth son, Lee-Shun. The blood-bath that followed left Isabel and Sebastian, along with Tushiko and their already married sisters in Lingshen and Quain as the only remaining children of Emperor Chontzu. Minkai breathed a sigh of relief that the transition had taken place so swiftly and with relatively little bloodshed.

It was only days after Shigure’s coronation that the truth emerged. Tushiko, leading his personal retainers and his allies in the Higashiyama clan, abducted Shigure, destroying the under-strength Imperial Guard in the process and confined him to the Higashiyama compound. When the Imperial order came that Sebastian and Isabel must both remove themselves to the Higashiyama compound, without guards or retainers Isabel knew that if they obeyed they would never leave. Unlike Shigure, who had always been kind to his younger siblings, Tushiko was both cruel and vindictive and the twins knew they could never trust him. Isabel arranged for passage out of the Imperial City and, with Sebastian’s samurai in tow, they fled, riding for Wanshi where they hoped to offer their services to the new lord and build a power-base of their own, ready to take on the Celestial Throne itself.

Plans: As a child of the Emperor Isabel is in an odd position. She has immense knowledge and political skill, but almost no experience of the Empire her father ruled. She is also, technically, a rebel against the Empire, having disobeyed an Imperial decree. Her objectives are not fully established - even in her own mind. Making a bid for the Imperial Throne itself is treason, but with Minkai collapsing a stabilizing influence is desperately needed. To that end she offers alliance with the Lord of Wanshi and will try to build a coalition around him of the old Imperial Kingdoms, Sokuro, Po Li and Hawnagott as well as rising powers like Kawnlai. Her sisters in Quain and Lingshen might be persuaded to assist as well... maybe.

Solo Game: I'm very excited about the possibility of a single-player game. One of the things which is always a bit disappointing about RP games is how you can never go into real depth with a story or characters - this would be the perfect time to address that.
I have gone for Leadership because I have always liked stories with two protagonists rather than one since it creates much more interplay. Isabel is brilliant but inexperienced in the real world, while Sebastian is an excellent leader but lacks his sister's political understanding. This feels much more realistic to me than having one person who is just magically brilliant at everything - everyone needs help!
I've always been a fan of intrigue type games (I was delighted when my copy of Ultimate Intrigue came!) and this would be a great chance to play it. I post very regularly (often more than once per day) and am keen to try new game styles.

I think that's everything you asked for!


I just noticed this is a solo game! I'm stepping out. Have fun, guys!


Isabel Rhelian wrote:
Hi - this is my official submission for Isabel and her brother Sebastian.

A strong entry.

The Archlich wrote:
I just noticed this is a solo game! I'm stepping out. Have fun, guys!

Sorry to see you go!

I notice a lot of people going for the Leadership feat. Everyone scared of being alone?


GM Mowque wrote:


Very interesting. I have a soft spot for merchant-y characters (my first ever PC was a merchant turned wizard). I will also admit I like your writing style.

What class are you thinking?

Primarily negotiator or dandy at the present. It depends in part how you feel about the following:

1. On a linear scale of 0 - 10, with 0 being fully player-made and 10 being fully DM-made, where is your ideal equilibrium for this campaign's average medium of storytelling?

2. As the rough comparison to the setting is pre-Renaissance Asia, one could make connections between the various human ethnicities in the setting to those in the world (Mongolian, Korean, etc.). Though it will surely vary by region, where are the various regions on the progressive/conservative scale for that era? If that's a chore for them all, in general and in Wanshi's realm.

3. Which topics do you prefer not breached in campaigns?

4. Do you intend to tie loose ends of PC backstory to be relevant story elements where appropriate if left available by the player?

GM Mowque wrote:
I notice a lot of people going for the Leadership feat. Everyone scared of being alone?

The natural reason I presume many want the leadership feat is the campaign structure lends itself to charismatic characters who must field interpersonal support. One could almost say that very phrase circumscribes the definition of leadership.

Grand Lodge

I am not scarred of beeing alone :)

Liberty's Edge

Denenor wrote:
GM Mowque wrote:
I notice a lot of people going for the Leadership feat. Everyone scared of being alone?
The natural reason I presume many want the leadership feat is the campaign structure lends itself to charismatic characters who must field interpersonal support. One could almost say that very phrase circumscribes the definition of leadership.

This, and as I explained in my post, I like having two inter-dependent characters rather than one superman. :)

Dark Archive

Teret 'En Narn Nowe wrote:

My battle plan summery...

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Was I forgotten? I thought my battle plan summery might actually get at least one look... *sigh* Well, what can one do when one is forgotten...play Dark Souls and die a lot...that's what they can do.

Dark Archive

My plan summery...

Hwangott:
In order to gain Hawnagott as an ally to the Lord that summoned me here I would rely on my knowledge of poets and their language (the form of common I speak, as noted, is Kelish, the language of poets and scholars), hoping to gain favor so we can have their merchants and money as allied resources.

Kwanlai:
So that we can have Kawnlai as an ally in this civil war, we will appeal to their merchant area and attempt to barter future trade to negotiate allied resources. Since they are eager to join the fray, it should be easy to have them understand success in numbers, I only hope they can see reason with the allying of these cities.

Shokuro:
Since the Shokuro city is made up of samurai, who are honor driven, I'd wager they are likely to understand unity and duty...if needed, I am sure we can purchase temporary support in their army, but I hope we can gain an ally in these honor bound warrior people.

Wanshao:
The great and powerful Wanshao city...a great possible ally. Since I speak aquan, I will need to do everything I can to keep things civil and retain reason in negotiations so that logic will prevail over the innate ways of the large beast that rules the land.

Bachuan:
Since Bachuan is a people lead by a woman, as I understand it...I am sure they wish to keep themselves out of anyones authoritative grasp. I'll speak to their desire for sovereignty and suggest that being an ally until the civil war is over is in their best interest.

Chu-Ye:
The city of Chu-Ye, being a town that does not favor humans, I might gain favor if I appeal to their feelings of superiority and express humility...if not, by the time I get to them, I can command respect by taking down a favored warrior of theirs in open combat and request that they become an ally with such powerful leadership.

Other:
Going to the dark lands seems dangerous at best, I will likely head that direction after gaining an ally or five.
Going to the jungle area seems interesting, so may go to explore what it has in store after I get my feet wet.

Summery:
All in all, I feel that many can become an ally as long as they want to see reason. If they can not see reason...power must bee shown, this way they will not fight against our endeavor to unite the land. Some may need force...others may be intelligent enough to know what is best for their people. I may not be conventional, following the wrote ways of the past all the time, but I'm neither good nor evil (Chaotic Neutral).

If this plan intrigues you, I'd love to Role Play it out with you. Pretty excited to show you the awesome abilities of the Samsaran Seer Oracle Mystery of Time Curse of Tongues.

Leadership:
I plan to take Leadership at my next level...it wouldn't make sense to take it now as I am only just now arriving in the area. After succeeding in gaining an ally or three, I can see gaining a cohort and some followers (plus I have high charisma and at lvl 9 (minimum lvl I could take it) my leadership score would be 13 minimum. That would grant me a high level cohort (I totally need a tank) and a small bunch of low level followers)


Denenor wrote:


1. On a linear scale of 0 - 10, with 0 being fully player-made and 10 being fully DM-made, where is your ideal equilibrium for this campaign's average medium of storytelling?

2. As the rough comparison to the setting is pre-Renaissance Asia, one could make connections between the various human ethnicities in the setting to those in the world (Mongolian, Korean, etc.). Though it will surely vary by region, where are the various regions on the progressive/conservative scale for that era? If that's a chore for them all, in general and in Wanshi's realm.

3. Which topics do you prefer not breached in campaigns?

4. Do you intend to tie loose ends of PC backstory to be relevant story elements where appropriate if left available by the player?

GM Mowque wrote:
I notice a lot of people going for the Leadership feat. Everyone scared of being alone?
The natural reason I presume many want the leadership feat is the campaign structure lends itself to charismatic characters who must field interpersonal support. One could almost say that very phrase circumscribes the definition of leadership.

1. Funny, I often ask my players this. I find a 6 or 7 on the 'sandbox scale' works fairly well. I have run '10' games though, just pure PC driving action, no ulterior motives.

2. I can but it is very time consuming. I will go more in depth with the PC who is picked. I understand not everyone has memorized Tian Xia canon and will not judge players on this.

3. I don't really no sex or physical romance. Falling in love is fine, even seduction but nothing more then that. I'm a married man and quite uptight. Otherwise, sky is the limit.

4. That is one of the best parts of GMing a solo game!

Algar Lysandris wrote:
I am not scarred of beeing alone :)

Brave words indeed! And famous last words before that ooze drops on you...

Isabel Rhelian wrote:


This, and as I explained in my post, I like having two inter-dependent characters rather than one superman. :)

Yes, a neat way to handle it. And better action economy with two people then one!

Teret 'En Narn Nowe wrote:


Was I forgotten? I thought my battle plan summery might actually get at least one look... *sigh* Well, what can one do when one is forgotten...play Dark Souls and die a lot...that's what they can do.

Not ignored, just had a very busy day today (baking for 50 old ladies) and not much to say about it.

Keep submitting those characters!

Dark Archive

Dark Souls, the game for lonely bored people...well, almost to level 100.


Hey there! This looks like a fun game. My first instinct was some sort of Vigilante, but then I noticed that you're limiting it to Core, APG, and ACG classes, so I'm not sure.

I'll think of something soon!

Liberty's Edge

GM Mowque wrote:
Isabel Rhelian wrote:


This, and as I explained in my post, I like having two inter-dependent characters rather than one superman. :)
Yes, a neat way to handle it. And better action economy with two people then one!

If I wanted good action economy it would have been a hunter with a full level animal companion, and Leadership for a druid and another animal companion! 4 person party by myself... I think that would have been taking the mickey though... :D

Grand Lodge

Well why don't WE see about that ooze ;)

Dark Archive

What? Ooze? Ooh...let me examine it...and any corpse it may contain. Try not to destroy it too much...


I wonder if you'll be allowing the Ninja or Samurai classes? I ask because they are so setting appropriate but I don't think they count as Core, Base, or Hybrid classes.

I should also ask if you'll be willing to consider an application from someone who is brand new to the forums. I'm not new to Pathfinder or Roleplay, just new here. I can make a demo post to show I'm literate. I guess you'd have to take my word for it that I won't dissappear part way into the campaign still. I only work part time so I can have plenty of time to post!


Newbonomicon wrote:

Hey there! This looks like a fun game. My first instinct was some sort of Vigilante, but then I noticed that you're limiting it to Core, APG, and ACG classes, so I'm not sure.

I'll think of something soon!

Vigilante is fine (fits the game quite well actually). That bit was taken from a post from before that new class. I'll have to edit it for the future!

Destroya wrote:

I wonder if you'll be allowing the Ninja or Samurai classes? I ask because they are so setting appropriate but I don't think they count as Core, Base, or Hybrid classes.

I should also ask if you'll be willing to consider an application from someone who is brand new to the forums. I'm not new to Pathfinder or Roleplay, just new here. I can make a demo post to show I'm literate. I guess you'd have to take my word for it that I won't dissappear part way into the campaign still. I only work part time so I can have plenty of time to post!

Of course samurai and ninja are all right! We are in Tian Xia! Finally, a reason to play one without having to give an improbably and long backstory!

Brand new doesn't matter as much. To be fair I take every player on as a matter of faith. I've only had one so far just vanish into the ether. Wasn't the end of the world.

Look forward to seeing these two characters!


Oh, vigilante is cool? Awesome. I've actually put quite a bit of thought into how a vigilante could work in a solo game. I'll have to take some time to actually come up with the character, but I like the idea that my social identity would be the lord's agent, and my vigilante identity would be an assassin, whose activities can never be conclusively traced back to the lord.


Newbonomicon wrote:
Oh, vigilante is cool? Awesome. I've actually put quite a bit of thought into how a vigilante could work in a solo game. I'll have to take some time to actually come up with the character, but I like the idea that my social identity would be the lord's agent, and my vigilante identity would be an assassin, whose activities can never be conclusively traced back to the lord.

This is very cool....velvet and iron.

Dark Archive

Both the Ninja and the Samurai are Base Classes. I would assume they would be aloud just on that note. There is also the setting, if they weren't aloud before, the setting sure should allow them. Then comes the fact that the GM said you're good to go...of course that class is aloud.
That all said...you have a lot of interest in this campaign, @GM Mowque ...maybe either hold a lottery or start multiple versions of this scenario.


Teret 'En Narn Nowe wrote:

Both the Ninja and the Samurai are Base Classes. I would assume they would be aloud just on that note. There is also the setting, if they weren't aloud before, the setting sure should allow them. Then comes the fact that the GM said you're good to go...of course that class is aloud.

That all said...you have a lot of interest in this campaign, @GM Mowque ...maybe either hold a lottery or start multiple versions of this scenario.

Oh no, not a lottery. Some of these are more interesting then others, some I'd rather run then others. Still analyzing. So new people, keep submitting, I'm not done deciding until the due date, I promise you that!

As for multiple version: No. I run plenty of games, and they all need to be distinct so I can keep them separate in my mind. Besides I want to run a variety of games, not a few clones, no interest for me as a GM.


Mai Yoshiro (a continuation):
Inundated with emotion, Yoshiro paused. Initially, he was excited with the prospect of moving on to a more potent line of work. It wasn’t he disliked playing the market – he loved it – but the consequences were much farther-reaching than a satchel full of coin. Some anger flared within him after a moment, for Toan Hao, absent for most of his life, had prevented him from not only having a father but also having the opportunity to pursue this new work. The burst of sentiment wore to a bitter aftertaste of fear: What would I do that is so dangerous?

He spoke to the last piece. ”What’s the job?”

The plump grandfather nodded. ”Glad you asked. Tak Hitoshi – he’s a constable with good eyes and better ears. I guess the eyes aren’t too bad though; they’re orange from the Min blood.” He began to count-off on his fingers. ”He hears about opportunities before we can take them, he hovers around our people like insects on a fruitfall, and he always calls-in his betters when there’s too much for him to handle. He’s too damned good. Too damned diligent!” The man had worked himself into a spot of anger.

After calming a bit, he continued. ”I had some people look into his background. He was of some status back from his peninsula, but he’s not said a word about it in Goka. Now why would that be?”

Yoshiro shrugged. ”Maybe he wanted a change of pace?” Running away from responsibility – I’m sure my father could understand.

His grandfather laughed. ”People don’t shirk comfortable lives, boy. Your father learned that, and you will too.” Though he turned to Toan Hao, his father remained stoic and silent. Something you haven’t told me is there?

”He needs to let us continue our operations without interference. The sooner this happens, the better.”

Yoshiro didn’t like where this was going. Do they expect me to kill him?.. ”Sir, I’ve never done that kind of work before, and – “

”Oh, I think you have. See, our diviners are capable enough to monitor agents of the law’s movements, they can surely observe some street vendor. You might be opposed to warring, but wenching – “

At this, his father spoke up. ”Enough. He knows the goal. His – “

”YOU do not tell ME enough!” The old man shot a finger towards his son, and a beam of energy crackled forth. It grazed his father’s wrist, and Yoshiro watched him pull back in pain.

He should have leapt to Toan Hao’s defense, but there was no strong bond between them.

”As I was saying…” Powerful and quick his power might have been, but Huu Tai had to take a few deep breaths before continuing. ”Your son isn’t picky with his playmates. Strumpets or suitors will do, it seems – why, I was sorry to interrupt the latter when your father came to fetch you for this task.” The smile slowly spreading on the man’s face was a wicked vein of pride. He likes power. He couldn’t care less who I was with, as long as he had me in his grasp…

Yoshiro’s father was no psychic though, and his guilt showed plainly. ”Yoshiro, Huu Tai means no ill will towards you…”

”I know.”

The unexpectedly calm response interrupted the thoughts of the other family members for a bit, but Huu Tai recovered after a second, nodding. ”A son with eyes for detail beneath the surface. Good.” He shot Hoan Hao a look of victory with his dark eyes before turning them back to Yoshiro. ”Tak Hitoshi shares a similar taste, and he goes through greater efforts than you to conceal it. I can’t IMAGINE it would be good for his standing with the city security if he were to be found unfit for duty…”

Yoshiro took the hint. ”You want me to embarrass him?”

”Not immediately. Get close to him. See what he knows. Nudge him for appointment times that would force a conflict with our more delicate affairs.”

”And what do I get for this?”

There was a quick flash of rage in Huu Tai’s eyes, though it quickly melted into a different type of smile. One of pride. He thinks I am like him. So sad… ”It depends what he knows. If he’s a piece of cheese with a blackjack, you get to have a permanent vendor stall in a high-traffic area. If he gives us the keys to the city, you can have a piece of the Wall of Heaven.”

Huu Tai’s offer was a challenge to Yoshiro. He didn’t like his privacy violated, nor did he care for the wicked ego and demanding nature of the man. Yet he was in Goka now, and the underground network was a cesspool one could find themselves treading in for some time. That is not my destiny.

”Very well. How shall we be introduced?”

”Oh, don’t worry. We’ll handle that...”

*****************

”My satchel!”

Yoshiro reached down to grab where a tug had been moments before. His coins were missing, and the blur of a dashing cutpurse darted through the crowd. ”Thief! Thief!”

The half-elf did his best to sprint through the crowd in the busy street, but he had no luck making headway on the man, always one step ahead of him. As he approached the intersection, a tall, muscular individual made to intercept him. As he dove, the trickster slipped away, though the coins were forfeited, clinking around the ground by the constable.

Well-done, Gansukh.

His clothes common, his hair unkempt, the young man stooped to reclaim his belongings. After a moment, he had a pair of helping hands.

”Let me know if you’re missing anything from your sack. I don’t often miss my targets. Sorry about that.”

His concern is sincere; so is his disappointment. This was surely beyond the man’s job purview, yet he helped Yoshiro anyway.

He extended a hand. ”Yun Zhao, a travelling merchant from New Oppara. You have my thanks for attempting to stop that robbery.” He emphasized attempted just enough. Just enough…

The officer grimaced. ”Tak Hitoshi. You must not be from the West, though you are fluid with their manners.” He returned the handshake. Observant. Strong.

”Can I offer you some sake as thanks?”

”I can’t,” responded Tak, not even looking up from the street. ”While on duty, I am not to drink.” But as he handed the refilled satchel to Yoshiro, a customer’s hesitation took hold.

”Are you sure? You look like you could use one, and you certainly earned it.” His eyes and smile were in full view of Hitoshi’s countenance now.

The man hesitated, and moments passed. ”Well, I suppose when I am done for the day.”
Yoshiro and Gansukh had planned this incident in the sunset hours for precisely that reason. ”When’s that?”

Hitoshi covered his eyes as he looked down the street into the setting sun. ”Soon.” They weren’t kidding when they said he was duty-bound. How loyal…

****************

And so it was Yoshiro inserted himself into Hitoshi’s after-hours. The frequency of their conventions increased, and the duplicitous man succeeded in having him adjust shifts to “better suit their time together”, in actuality covering for Huu Tai’s dealings instead. Yet Hitoshi was tight as a clam when it came to his past. There was a larger problem though.

Yoshiro wasn’t sure he wanted to continue playing the man for a pawn anymore; he’s a paragon of virtue and does nothing but good. Why isn’t he in a monastery someplace? Guilt began to erode his veneer, using the man as a pawn for his personal gain, and the discomfort manifested towards anguish. I can’t keep this up. Hitoshi would notice. Little slips by him.

What should I do?..

Tak Hitoshi would be the cohort. As for class you asked, my dilemma between negotiator and dandy still stands. Noble scion would be a natural progression from there. I have 1-2 pieces more of the exposition to link it to the campaign start proper. Let me know if there are questions you feel I'm leaving unanswered or if the story won't mesh with you; either way, it would be good to know your feedback.


Denenor: You don't need to drown me in text. I get the gist of things! I'd hate for you to do all this work!

Everyone else: Do not be intimidated by these big entries. Still plenty of room for new comers.


GM Mowque wrote:

Denenor: You don't need to drown me in text. I get the gist of things! I'd hate for you to do all this work!

Would you like a crunch but no more exposition going forward? I can hold-off on the latter, though I feel the "noble" part of the noble scion class might seem out-of-the-blue without it.

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