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Mighty Lung Wa once controlled much of Tian Xia, but the empire crumbled a century ago. Three Successor States have squabbled for dominance ever since, each insisting that it alone is the rightful inheritor of Lung Wa's glory. In the shadow of these mighty nations, the humble land of Shokuro has sought the means to discourage its neighbors' territorial ambitions and earn their respect. When a retired hero learns of a lost, legendary palace that might protect relics of the old empire, she calls on the Pathfinder Society for assistance finding the fabled site. The PCs must travel to each of the Successor States in search of clues to uncover the palace and the treasures within.
Quain is a nation of heroes and the home of hundreds of martial arts masters. Some of these masters are highly respected and lead renowned schools, while others struggle to perfect and promote their style. Jiang Fei is the latter sort of master, having developed her own fighting style that hasn’t yet caught on. Jiang Fei might have been destined for mediocrity and obscurity, but she happens to be the custodian of an item of great interest to Mai Chun.
This is the third quest in the series of five. I look forward to being your host through this adventure. And this will also be my first time GMing a PbP!
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You make your way back to the house of Mai Chun. She unfortunately is not home, but has left you a message concerning your next task. Handout
Treble Tan, after completing three of the tasks put before the group, feels it necessary to take three days to meditate on recent events. He takes his leave, promising to return before long.
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You arrive in Lanming without incident. Lanming seems a fairly typical town one can expect to find on the continent of Tian Xia, although one thing does stand out: there seem to be an extraordinarily high number of martial art schools. The bustling activity provides several opportunities to inquire about the School of the Jade Ogre. After several confused looks from several when asked about the school. You happen upon one individual who replies, ”Oh! You mean the Dumpling House!”
His directions lead you to a poorer section of Lanming. The shouts of merchants hawking wares and students practicing their forms are quieter in this part of the city, but the streets still bustle with activity. Rows of old and run-down dwellings line the streets. One small apartment has been converted into a food stall, where a handsome woman with dark hair chats with a few customers. The sign above the shop reads “Jiang Fei’s Dumpling House and School of the Jade Ogre Style.”
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The woman serving the customers approaches. Wearing the simple garb of a martial artist, the only real color visible in her attire is a beautiful jade comb she uses to keep her long black hair up. She smiles demurely and bows slightly.”Welcome to Jiang Fei’s Dumpling House and School of the Jade Ogre Style. I am Jiang Fei. Please, make yourselves comfortable.” She gestures to one of the empty tables. ”Have you come for food, friendship or…” she eyes your weapons warily, ”…fighting?”
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She brightens at the query. ”Yes, indeed. Please, let me get you some tea. I will tell you about the Jade Ogre Style shortly. Let me take care of my other customers and I will return.” Jiang Fei hurriedly brings hot tea to your table and goes about making sure the other patrons are taken care of. She then returns and sits at your table.
”What exactly would you care to know?”
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Zadim nods to the shopkeep/sensei. "We're here on behalf of Mai Chun. She told us that you would be expecting us, and you had a favor to ask us for the information that we seek." he pauses to take a sip of the hot tea, and smile at the flavor. "Can I assume that your style has something to do with this?"
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”Indeed. I had hoped you were the group Mai Chun was sending. And, yes. There is a favor I would ask of you before providing the information Mai Chun seeks. And it does involve the School of the Jade Ogre.” She pauses a moment before continuing. ”I think it best to speak with you privately. If you will excuse me for a moment?” Without waiting for an answer, she rises and proceeds to speak to the few customers still sitting. Without any word of protest, the customers hurriedly finish up and leave, as if this were an everyday occurrence. After the last one leaves, Jiang Fei closes shop and invites you into her home. Humble furnishings occupy the cramped apartment, indications of a person just managing to scrape by.
After bringing in some chairs from her shop, Jiang Fei kneels on a mat. ”Let us get straight into it, then. Mai Chun is seeking information on the location of the Summer Palace. My family once served there, and I have a family heirloom that depicts the palace, along with nearby landmarks. I will allow you to copy the depiction…if you help me promote the Jade Ogre School.” She looks at you, waiting to answer any questions that arise.
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Elemenar considers Jiang Fei for a moment then replies. "Before we can agree to this, we should understand more about the Jade Ogre school. If this school is simply a front for petty theft and villainy, then I'm afraid that would be a difficulty." Elemenar seems unconcerned with the potential offense his words might create.
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Jiang Fei does not seem offended at all by the comment. ”Honorable words, indeed,” she says. ”I assure you, this is no front for illegal activities. Rather, ever since Lung Wa fell and the Summer Palace was abandoned, my family has had poor luck. No matter how we tried, we could never seem to avoid financial misfortune. While my dumpling shop does stay in business, it does little more than that. That is where the School of the Jade Ogre comes in. I have developed a style of martial art I call the Jade Ogre style. I have only had a couple of people show interest, and it is very difficult for a new martial art school to gain ground, especially if it is not well financed.”
She looks at each of you in turn. ”I would ask of you four to learn the basics of Jade Ogre style, then use your training to… promote the school by demonstrating its’ effectiveness.”
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Elemenar's eyebrows raise at the suggestion that he train in skills of physical combat. "I prefer to use the power of my mind to defeat my foes. But," he pauses as he deals with an internal struggle, "for the sake of the Summer Palace, I could make an effort. And I join my friend here in their questions." He nods at Zadim and Eyden.
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Jing Fei shakes her head. ”There is no tournament, and no schools that take challenges…exactly. There is another school, the Scorpion School, that trains its pupils to be braggarts and bullies. They frequent a local establishment, the Wang Li Fa Teahouse. It is well known that fights frequently break out there. I wish for you to go to this teahouse and goad them into a fight, then best them using only the four basic moves of the Jade Ogre style.” She looks at the two spellcasters. ”Yes, Jade Ogre is effective. Even magic users are able to use this style. This would garner much positive attention for my school. After, I will share the information with you which Mai Chun requires.”
”I can teach you the basics of Jade Ogre in one day. There is a small festival tomorrow which will attract extra customers to the teahouse. This will be the perfect time to demonstrate my technique. Do we have an agreement?”
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”Very well, then. Let us begin the training.” She leads you to a park located just behind her apartment. There, several makeshift mannequins have been set up. This is obviously where she practices and plans to train her students. She starts by having you all kneel on mats lined up in the middle of the park.
”Since we only have today to train, I will only show you the basics. Jade Ogre primarily focuses on disabling the foes ability…” she starts.
After several hours, you all are able to properly execute the four basic moves of Jade Ogre style. It is after dark before Jiang Fei stops, realizing there is nothing more she can teach you in the remaining time while still allowing you to rest up.
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The next morning, Jiang Fei offers you a hearty breakfast of dumplings, then leads you to the teahouse. You have a short time to prepare yourselves before you arrive. As you walk to the teahouse, she reminds you of the goal to fully demonstrate the Jade Ogre style. ”Using manufactured weapons is greatly frowned upon, as is lethal force. We are here to promote my school, not bring it dishonor.”
The Wang Li Fa Teahouse is well lit and nicely decorated, with elaborate murals painted on the walls displaying the feats of local heroes. The furniture and serving dishes of the place are somewhat at odds with the decor though, and seem to be of cheap, rough make. The numerous patrons of the teahouse don’t seem to mind, and the place bustles with servers moving around and patrons chatting. She leads you to an unoccupied table near the front wall of the teahouse. She points out the Scorpion School students in the far corner of the teahouse.
”There are the students. Now it just remains to somehow get them to fight. I ask you do not just go up and threaten them, though. I do not want the Jade Ogre school to gain the same reputation they already have. They are very easy to offend. Any ideas?”
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Elemenar cracks a thin smile at the sylph's attempted singing. "Well, if that doesn't catch their attention, I don't know if anything will." Out of the corner of his eye he watches the Scorpion School students to see if they are reacting. "Ohm-Eran, let's see if this works. If not, I'm interested to hear about your idea."
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Jiang Fei cringes at the off-key song. The reaction from the Scorpion students is less than what was hoped for. Instead of taking insult, the four students regard Eyden with passing interest, perhaps thinking him a patron who just imbibed a little too much. They do seem to be paying a little more attention to you than before, though.
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Zadim gives Edyen a look of disbelief. "I don't think that did quite what you intended, Edyen." then with a slyer look on his face, he adds. "Though I'm a little surprised that it didn't. Isn't it in the nature of scorpions to sting, after all? I didn't think they raised docile scorpions in Tian Xia."
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Ohm-Eran bides his time until a member of the Scorpion school gets up, be it a trip to the lavatory, or to chase down a server. When that happens, the mesmerist looks deeply into her eyes.
In Tien, "My friend! It is good to see you. I can't help but share my joy that you have decided to leave the Scorpion school for the Jade Ogre Style. It is a wise decision, and I have the deepest respect for your courage and skill. To be honest, I think you have such chi that you could convince others to do the same. Indeed! I think it's a tremendously good and wise idea to go back and tell them all how you've seen the Truth, that The Jade Ogre Style is better than the Scorpion Style! Say it proud and loudly, for the truth rings like a clear bell!"
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It just so happens you do not have to wait long. The one “wearing” blue makes his way toward you.
[ooc]And fails miserably!!
He responds with slightly confused look as he tries to figure out why he cannot remember your name, being such good friends as you are. He completely forgets why he got up in the first place and, smiling at the re-acquaintance with such a good friend, returns to his companions to try to convince them.
While Red slaps Blue for such a stupid statement, Yellow stands up, points at you and shouts,"You fools! Jade Ogre is laughable. You're all as soft as the dumplings it's known for!"
Bold may act:
Zadim
Elmenar
Green
Red
Eyden
Yellow
Blue
Ohm-Eran
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Zadim steps forward and pauses at the front of the group. He drops into the stance that Jiang Fei drilled into them, and with a smirk, gestures for the Scorpion students to come.
As the first foe steps close, Zadim swiftly swings his fists forward to knock the student back.
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"It might have worked if you guys had joined in the chorus," Eyden mutters. But he cheers when Ohm-Eran has to resort to magic to get the fight started.
Once the positioning begins, he moves to one side to give the group a little more room. Following Zadim's lead, he readies an action and waits for one of the Scorpion students to come to him.
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Green and Red eye you warily, not really expecting someone that appears ready to fight back, especially in equal numbers. They both reach into their belt pouches and remove small vials, popping the tops and quickly chugging the contents down. When Eyden joins the others in his readied stance, Yellow follows suit and urges the others. "What are you waiting for? Get them, already!" Blue, still under the influence of the spell, looks to Ohm-Eran and says, "Hey, friend. Tell your companions to stand down. I don't want to hurt them, but I will if I must." He likewise pulls a potion and hurriedly drinks it.
Bold may act:
Zadim
Elmenar
Green
Red
Eyden
Yellow
Blue
Ohm-Eran
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Ohm-Eran, despite the crash course in training, is ill-equipped for a barroom brawl. He shrugs and replies very sternly, "You'd do well to stand down. The power of the Jade Ogre is umatched! The blow to your pride will be nothing compared to the blows to your body! Give in now and at least avoid the pain!" The mesmerist tries to demoralize the man:
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Your message not only seems to get through to Blue, it seems to resonate to his very core. "But...How...? I thought we were...?", he stammers. You think he may have just peed a little. By this time, most of the patrons and staff have moved out of the way. Several spectators crowd around the windows and block the doorway, straining to watch the impending fight. Jiang Fei stands at the back of the room, waiting for the opportune moment to start proclaiming the praises of her school. Somewhere from the corner of the room, an older man sits, a small smile on his face. He quietly says, "Remember...Paint the Fence."
Bold may act:
Zadim
Elmenar
Green
Red
Eyden
Yellow
Blue
Ohm-Eran
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Zadim steps forward and pauses at the front of the group. He drops into the stance that Jiang Fei drilled into them, and with a smirk, gestures for the Scorpion students to come.
** spoiler omitted **
Green finally gets enough courage to come forward. Zadim, the professional he is, was ready for the attack and manages to strike first, using the Scorpion student's own momentum against him.
While the blow was not enough to push him away, it stops Green in his tracks. A glazed look spreads across his face.
Red uses the opportunity to move toward Zadim as well. He approaches and attempts to strike Zadim in the neck.
At the last second, he stumbles over Green's foot and misses.
Bold may act:
Zadim
Elmenar
Green
Red
Eyden
Yellow
Blue
Ohm-Eran
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Eyden's nervousness and unfamiliarity with physical combat show. His jabbing kick misses the target. In fact, it is unclear exactly which target he was aiming for.
Yellow decides it's time to turn the tide. She rushes toward Elmenar a tries to drive her knee into Elmenar's chest. Blue follows behind and also attempts to plant his fist in the side of the wizard's head.
As both attacks connect, Elmenar feels the wind get knocked out of him, followed a moment later by a burst of stars briefly obscuring his vision.
Jiang-Fei wonders if she shouldn't have waited one more day and provided a little more training.
Bold may act:
Zadim
Elmenar
Green -9 hp, disabled
Red
Eyden
Yellow
Blue shaken -3 rounds
Ohm-Eran
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"SEE! See your style fall and falter. You are the beach waiting for the tide to come in. There is nothing you can do!" Ohm-Eran, feeling empowered by the course of the battle drops into a low zenkutsu dachi stance and uses returning fist power on his tsuki to drive the opponent in the red bandana backwards
for (FORT DC 11 or be pushed back)
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As Elmenar steps away he swings wildly, missing the opponent by a large margin. Nearby, though, Zadim continues to show his expertise in his field as he not only manages to beautifully execute the Jade Ogre maneuver, but his opponent flies into the table behind him and drops to the floor like a heap of dirty laundry. The shoddy table splinters as the body crashes into it.
Bold may act:
Zadim
Elmenar-9 hp
Green -9 hp, disabled
Red
Eyden
Yellow
Blue shaken -3 rounds
Ohm-Eran