I get the impression that there might be enough interest around here for me to run another game of Pathfinder based on Wuxia fiction, that is to say the genre of fiction that informs most kung fu movies. I'm looking for 3-5 players who can post fairly regularly throughout the week. I will accept submissions for one week (it is currently the 19th) after which I will select players based on the most suitable candidates.
Please read every section before indicating interest.
In their human incarnations the PCs have independently become renowned heroes, blissfully ignorant of their past incarnations. They will start play knowing nothing of their dark pasts.
Aside from that it will be a "typical" wuxia game, with kung fu heroes getting into all sorts of complex conflicts based on honor and loyalty that devolve into fisticuffs.
It is the same setting as the Romance of the Borderlands game I also run here. You can find a lot of relevant information on the campaign tab, which I have linked.
Think higher fantasy than a typical wuxia novel, but lower fantasy than the typical Pathfinder game. Basically a Jin Young novel but with monsters, wizards and strange tribes of humans added in. Magic is rare in general, but not uncommon within the underworld community the PCs will be involved in.
You have to take at least three levels of one or the other of these classes, because the game is about Kung Fu heroes, but the other seven levels are yours to do with as you wish (remember in this context kung fu can and does involve swords).
Aside from that, characters will be 10th level and can use any core or base race (although all characters will be humans storywise races can be used to represent strange tribes or upbringings) and any core or base class besides Monk, Gunslinger and Summoner in addition to the two new classes.
25 points point buy for ability scores.
65,000 gp starting equipment but you can't have more than three magic items total (although a collection of potions or some other cache of expendables is fine). Magic items are rare in general in the setting so you tend to have a few nice ones rather than a collection of mediocre ones. Unless your character comes from a wealthy background you must spend all the starting cash before play begins or lose all but a few silver pieces.
All you need to indicate to me for now is your intended race/class combination.
Do keep in mind the type of hero typical to the genre:
The traditional xia of fiction is a non-conformist who fights for justice. He is honorable to a fault, his word is inviolable, and his reputation is more important than life itself. Moreover, he is a master of the martial arts who does not hesitate to use his skills in the defense of his beliefs.
Some good introductory movies: Iron Monkey, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Kung Fu Hustle.
Books: Anything by Jin Young, especially the Condor Heroes trilogy, Journey to the West.
I'm more than happy to answer any questions anyone has; I don't get to prattle on about wuxia nearly as much as I'd like.
If you're interested please indicate as much and give me a character description for both your actual human PC, and your previous demon incarnation. I'm not looking for novels, but try to give me some plot hooks. Other than that all I want is intended class/race combination right now. You can make actual stats once I've selected the PCs.
Please feel free to ask any questions.
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Hey, I was thinking of a ronin-type sword saint....just throwing that out for an idea. As for a concept, I was thinking a wandering righter of wrongs, kind of a traveling do-gooder. Not the get the kitten out of the tree type, but the one that lays the smack down on the oppressive master or corrupt official.
Also, what about traits? I'm bored and might want to just throw a character together for something to do....
Interested in the campaign. Thinking of a shaolin paladin type who was once a hellknight type of oni/demon. I'll have more tomorrow.
Every mystical kung fu setting needs a Witch! Im thinking my character would be the kind of hero who sits in one place and people travel to, to ask for guidance or outright assistance. The kind of character who would much rather lead a quiet life tending a garden, but who cannot bring oneself to refuse those in need. So he/she lives somewhere remote, possible on a mountainside, so only those who truly needs it will come seeking aid. Not sure on gender, havnt done much in the way of playing females and even then they were brash boyish types anyway. But female just seems to be the archetype for this kind of character so I might try it anyway.
Previous demon incarnation, im thinking some sort of manipulator who was behind alot of the "evil tyrants" of the land, playing the role of advisor to the lords and steering them towards evil.
Wouldnt mind a selection of evil spirit / demon types from you Captain, since I only know of the most basic ones.
EDIT: Just watched the Youtube clip, and will definitely need to incorperate some White Hair witch aspect (even if she isnt using her actual hair in this) Whether that will be through the Hex or the actual Archetype, we will see.
I can't seem to get your class page to open....
Ha, last time people had issues with it not being a .pdf.
Also, what about traits? I'm bored and might want to just throw a character together for something to do....
Like I said, I'm not so much looking for stats at the moment and will not look at them until the time comes, but if you just want something to do up to 2 traits, each from a different category.
Hey, I was thinking of a ronin-type sword saint....just throwing that out for an idea. As for a concept, I was thinking a wandering righter of wrongs, kind of a traveling do-gooder. Not the get the kitten out of the tree type, but the one that lays the smack down on the oppressive master or corrupt official.
Sounds good. This is more based on China than Japan, so rather than a Ronin you'd have to be more of a Xia, but it's all potato potato as far as this archetype is concerned.
Thinking of a shaolin paladin type who was once a hellknight type of oni/demon.
A literal Shaolin Paladin would be pretty cool. Evil-Subduing Staff Style indeed.
VERY interested. Thinking of options now.
Wouldnt mind a selection of evil spirit / demon types from you Captain, since I only know of the most basic ones.
They're all mostly unique entities, just some kind of minor spiritual being that is hostile towards humans. I'm sure we could make whatever you come up with work.
The big three would be malevolent nature spirits, intelligent animals who can transform into things, or cast-down minor gods and divine officials (there's a celestial bureaucracy and they do not tolerate failure). Demons could regain their previous positions if they gain enough enlightenment. There is also a loophole whereby they can do the same thing if they eat a priest, so they like eating priests.
It's all very Journey To The West. You can look up some of the myriad demons from that if you want some inspiration. One thing I say a lot about the setting is that it's the Wulin from Legend of the Condor Heroes and the wilderness from Journey to the West.
Edit: I'll do an example, because I like it when people give examples when I'm making a character for a new setting:
If I was going to play I'd want to be some kind of a detached Wudang Swordsman, so a good foil for that would be some kind of hedonistic demon obsessed with the pleasures of the material world. So I figure a pig would be fun. I don't see this pig gaining enlightenment on his own, so maybe he's half demon already. Or half god. Okay he's the son of a god and a pig. And let's say he was assigned to guard a magic peach but he ended up eating it as soon as he was alone, so he was cast out of heaven.
So that's more than enough: a hedonistic half-god pig demon cast out of heaven for gluttony/dereliction of duty. He's not "evil" in the traditional sense, but he's destructively self-centered and that's good enough.
But female just seems to be the archetype for this kind of character
Eeeeeeeeeengh not really. Crazy enlightened mountain dwellers skew more towards the "old man" (or the ever popular "old man who looks super young") in Wuxia fiction.
Keep in mind that you can have whatever backstory you want, but this game is about wandering martial arts heroes and I'm not going to fight anyone on this. If you decide "my character leaves everyone to go home to her mountain" my response will be "okay, she's retired, see you next game".
Keep in mind that you can have whatever backstory you want, but this game is about wandering martial arts heroes and I'm not going to fight anyone on this. If you decide "my character leaves everyone to go home to her mountain" my response will be "okay, she's retired, see you next game".
Well its more a setup thing. Its the "reluctant hero", one who would rather they had been an average joe, but who has the power to help and cannot bring themselves to ignore pleas for help. The seclusion is more to avoid being constantly pestered by every little problem people may have.
Once in the group, I expect the overarching goal or impending threat of evil will keep the character with the group. Once friendship has been built, the desire to go home will fade, or atleast thats what the role playing goal is.
I wasnt so much thinking about the current person as much as the previous demon incarnation in regards to gender. Although I suppose you dont have to be female in your next life just because you were in your previous.
This could be the perfect place for my Shaolin/Sorceror/Dragon Disciple.
A once demon seeking to regain something close to his original form through Dragon Disciple.
So no monk levels allowed so there is no way to bennefit from more than one style at a time? So you can't pick up say Dragon Style and use it along with they styles you created correct?
I expect the overarching goal or impending threat of evil will keep the character with the group
I run very sandboxy games. I'm not a GM who is going to drag characters kicking and screaming into an overarching plot. I like to build one out of the PCs backstories and actions. The PCs need to be self-motivated heroes to an extent. If you want to play Wolverine that's fine, but I'm not going to spend half my day thinking of reasons why Wolverine would be coming along. That will be your problem.
You can play a character who is as reluctant as you want but you, the player, Deliverence, are responsible for keeping them in the group, not me. If there's a lull in the action and you decide to go home, you know what my feelings are. As long as we have an understanding about this you can play whatever.
A once demon seeking to regain something close to his original form through Dragon Disciple.
Wait, wait, let me get this concept straight: he realized he's a reincarnated demon, and his response was "awesome, let's see if I can transform into one!"
I'm going to allow this.
Even though I said you didn't know you were demons. I figure you'll land somewhere on the continuum between Vegeta and That PC We Had To Kill.
So no monk levels allowed so there is no way to bennefit from more than one style at a time? So you can't pick up say Dragon Style and use it along with they styles you created correct?
The styles in the class feature aren't the same as the monk styles, it's just there wasn't another good name for it. So you can use style feats along with them (but from a story perspective only the class feature styles are actual martial arts styles).
This is something I'm still trying to hammer out with these classes.
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A once demon seeking to regain something close to his original form through Dragon Disciple.Wait, wait, let me get this concept straight: he realized he's a reincarnated demon, and his response was "awesome, let's see if I can transform into one!"
I'm going to allow this.
Even though I said you didn't know you were demons. I figure you'll land somewhere on the continuum between Vegeta and That PC We Had To Kill.
He wont so much know that he was a demon dragon but there will be an inner conflict pushing him towards that end now for reasons unknown to my hero. Better?
So no monk levels allowed so there is no way to bennefit from more than one style at a time? So you can't pick up say Dragon Style and use it along with they styles you created correct?The styles in the class feature aren't the same as the monk styles, it's just there wasn't another good name for it. So you can use style feats along with them (but from a story perspective only the class feature styles are actual martial arts styles).
This is something I'm still trying to hammer out with these classes.
So our heros could in effect use multiple Styles at the same time (using the Style Feats)?
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So our heros could in effect use multiple Styles at the same time (using the Style Feats)?
Everything works normally. There are no loopholes, there is only the addition of a new class feature also called style. You can think of the class feature as being called cucumbers if that helps. You can't use two styles or two cucumbers, but you can use a cucumber and a style at the same time because they're different.
Edit: In-universe the cucumbers are the actual martial arts that people study, and the style feats are just stuff you can do, like any other feat.
Oh, I guess I forgot to mention that any feat or item or what have you that requires Monk levels can be taken with levels in either of the two martial artist classes (Shaolin and Wudang). I must have left that off character creation. That should probably clarify some things.
They stack too, so if you were a Shaolin 2 Wudang 1 you could qualify for things that require Monk 3.
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So our heros could in effect use multiple Styles at the same time (using the Style Feats)?Everything works normally. There are no loopholes, there is only the addition of a new class feature also called style. You can think of the class feature as being called cucumbers if that helps. You can't use two styles or two cucumbers, but you can use a cucumber and a style at the same time because they're different.
Edit: In-universe the cucumbers are the actual martial arts that people study, and the style feats are just stuff you can do, like any other feat.
So fear the might of my brutal dragon cucumber style. It will destroy your kung fu
So fear the might of my brutal dragon cucumber style. It will destroy your kung fuSo our heros could in effect use multiple Styles at the same time (using the Style Feats)?Everything works normally. There are no loopholes, there is only the addition of a new class feature also called style. You can think of the class feature as being called cucumbers if that helps. You can't use two styles or two cucumbers, but you can use a cucumber and a style at the same time because they're different.
Edit: In-universe the cucumbers are the actual martial arts that people study, and the style feats are just stuff you can do, like any other feat.
Sent you that e-mail.
I missed the original recruitment for this, so it's cool that you're starting another campaign up in this setting.
I was thinking about a reformed bandit named descended from desert tribes (represented by the Ifrit race) who is the reincarnation of the Demon Princess of the Great Desert. She would be a Wudang/Swashbuckler wielding a Dao (scimitar).
That's assuming that the Advanced Class Guide classes are acceptable. I'm more than happy to tweak things to better fit in the campaign world.
I'd be interested in playing. Off the top of my head I'm thinking of an Iron Shirt style qigong master. Probably using some combination of your martial arts classes and Invulnerable Rager Barbarian to get DR to do the 'your weapons can't hurt me!' thing. I skimmed the Shaolin and Wudang classes and neither of them really seems to do anything like that, so I'd be happy for a suggestion on which class to take.
Another idea would be to go druid and fully embrace the animal style forms by literally shapechanging into animals, but I'm leaning more toward the Iron Shirt guy.
I was thinking about a reformed bandit named descended from desert tribes (represented by the Ifrit race) who is the reincarnation of the Demon Princess of the Great Desert. She would be a Wudang/Swashbuckler wielding a Dao (scimitar).
Seems like a good starting point.
I skimmed the Shaolin and Wudang classes and neither of them really seems to do anything like that, so I'd be happy for a suggestion on which class to take.
The fast version is Shaolin get more feats, Wudang get more Qinggong/Neijing abilities.
Another idea would be to go druid and fully embrace the animal style forms by literally shapechanging into animals, but I'm leaning more toward the Iron Shirt guy.
There's a shapeshifting taoist druid in my other game in this setting, and it fits the genre very nicely.
There's been a lot of questions about stats, and I'm happy to answer them, but keep in mind I'm primarily interested in a character premise and backstory at this point. I'm more than happy to help you flesh out the seeds of ideas, so don't feel like you have to have something polished to post it here. That way everyone can sort of brainstorm together and everyone can be aware of what other people are thinking of playing.
I skimmed the Shaolin and Wudang classes and neither of them really seems to do anything like that, so I'd be happy for a suggestion on which class to take.
I kind of didn't understand the question the first time I answered it, so here's a better answer:
A Shaolin could take Barkskin as a Neijing ability at level 5. Wudang don't get any particular advantage within the same range of levels, since they don't get Barkskin any earlier. That's basically the best help you're going to get for that sort of premise from those two classes.
Barbarian seems like your best bet for getting DR. Rage doesn't have to be a literal rage, remember, it could be all sorts of things. A meditative battle trance, or a strange method of channeling your qi that you can only maintain for a certain amount of time. You could even reskin it as "remembering" your demon self for a brief period. A barbarian/martial artist can totally work if you just fudge the fluff a bit.
Also, in case you didn't guess from my omission, all of the published paizo base classes are cool with the exception of the banned ones under character creation.
In regards to damage reduction, stacking Invulnerable Rager with the Stalwart Feat and Crane style could get you a solid damage reduction.
Yeah, I think I'll go Shaolin/Barb (Invulnerable Rager) and grab Improved DR and Stalwart. I'll play around with the levels a bit. Probably half-orc (since we're all human regardless of "race", he's just from some kind of hardy native tribe somewhere that grows 'em big and tough); say he's from a school far to the south that reveres the native dragon turtles and studies them the way other styles cats or mantises (or tigers or dragons). His motivation is going to be the classic 'travel around to learn from different masters/beat up people to demonstrate his school's superiority'.
Yeah, I think I'll go Shaolin/Barb (Invulnerable Rager) and grab Improved DR and Stalwart. I'll play around with the levels a bit. Probably half-orc (since we're all human regardless of "race", he's just from some kind of hardy native tribe somewhere that grows 'em big and tough); say he's from a school far to the south that reveres the native dragon turtles and studies them the way other styles cats or mantises (or tigers or dragons). His motivation is going to be the classic 'travel around to learn from different masters/beat up people to demonstrate his school's superiority'.
If you were from a martial arts sect based outside of the Empire of Heaven then the orthodox Wulin would consider the very idea that your martial arts could be superior to be laughable, and that kind of fits with the rest of your concept. You could have come to the empire to prove your school's superiority.
Normally I like to have a lot of information to call upon before I think up a PC. Yet I will try my best none the less. xP
I am thinking a sort of Taoist priest type that specializes in demon hunting and binding. Bit of irony for you. I am torn between him making use of a single sword or staff. Regardless he will be the quick and nimble kind, weapon finesse anyone, and some what fail at being the traditional priest. He prefers atoning over iron self control, at least when it comes to things outside his duty. Racewise just human sense none of the other core races seem to fit overly well.
My problem comes in his class selection. I looked over your base classes and don't know which of the two would work best with this concept. So a little help if it's not to much trouble would be very welcome. :)
P.S. Don't know anything of Wuxia really so feel free to throw me tidbits.
Normally I like to have a lot of information to call upon before I think up a PC.
Feel free to ask me whatever you like. Did you check out the information on the campaign tab I linked?
I am thinking a sort of Taoist priest type that specializes in demon hunting and binding. Bit of irony for you. I am torn between him making use of a single sword or staff. Regardless he will be the quick and nimble kind, weapon finesse anyone, and some what fail at being the traditional priest. He prefers atoning over iron self control, at least when it comes to things outside his duty. Racewise just human sense none of the other core races seem to fit overly well.
Sounds like a good start. Remember you need to think about your demon self as well.
If you want to be a taoist priest Wudang might be more your speed, as taoists are huge on inner alchemy and all the other stuff internal martial artist's specialize in.
Yes I skimmed it.
I have a few questions concerning Wudang.
First it has crafting feats as bonus feats but they require spellcraft to be used, yet it's not a class skill. Is that intentional?
Also noticed some spells and feats I don't recognize. Is there some 3rd party material in there?
Concerning his demon self, I am fine tuning it in my head. Short version. He was a prince who became a snake who became a demon. Will have more up tomorrow. ;)
The last thing he saw was his executioner wearing a mask....a mask that exactly resembled the demon.
If you were from a martial arts sect based outside of the Empire of Heaven then the orthodox Wulin would consider the very idea that your martial arts could be superior to be laughable, and that kind of fits with the rest of your concept. You could have come to the empire to prove your school's superiority.
I like it. This big barbarian going around showing off a new style. 'Your Eight Trigram Palm can't hope to pierce the Celestial Dragon Turtle's Back!'
First it has crafting feats as bonus feats but they require spellcraft to be used, yet it's not a class skill. Is that intentional?
I don't see a lot of item creation in my games, so maybe I'm mistaken and there's something I'll have to fix, but my understanding is that the feats allow you to either use Spellcraft or the Craft skill appropriate to the type of item being made.
If that's not the case that's my intention, so you can swap out any instance of "spellcraft" with "appropriate craft skill".
Also noticed some spells and feats I don't recognize. Is there some 3rd party material in there?
Tons. This SRD contains everything I use, so if you see something you don't recognize you can look it up there.
Will have a look at Wei Dong a bit later, I don't have time at this exact moment to respond thoughtfully.
Wei Dong is a driven man without a mission.
The most glaring omission here for me is: how and when did you acquire your martial arts skill? It seems to happen some time between your family dying and your decision to kill your cousin, but it doesn't even get a mention. Are you a member of a martial arts sect? Were you trained by some martial artist retainer of your cousin? Does your family have some secret familial martial art passed down through the generations? It's something you'll need to think about.
Also the bit with the cousin would only have worked if you impersonated him afterwards. A more likely outcome is that the imperial authorities would appoint a new lord, even more tyrannical and corrupt than your cousin, and you leave in disgust at the fact that you can't fight city hall, even literally.
Also bare in mind that filial piety is a big deal in this setting. Now you're wandering crazy people so the fact that you don't settle down with a nice girl and start a family is scandalous enough, but even in the Jianghu misfit society people will know you as "that guy who killed his own cousin". That doesn't mean I'm reccomending against it, because it's a neat character element, I just want you aware of what you'd be buying into. Some people will think you're terrible, some will admire your dedication to chivalry over family, but it would be the thing people know your character for (unless and until all this demon stuff gets out).
The last thing he saw was his executioner wearing a mask....a mask that exactly resembled the demon.
The only issue I have with your demon is the sort of open ended ending you have there. As cool as it is, it gives more the impression that the demon is still at-large, when we know it died and became your character. With a character like this demon, that is more of a presence than a physical entity, I feel like we need to at least have an idea of how it might die.
Here's some other setting detail that's not in the campaign info tab:
The leading "orthodox" martial arts sects in the Empire of Heaven (and the empire of heaven considers itself "the world") are the Shaolin, the Wudang, the Kunlun, the Emei and the Beggar's sect. The first four are collectively known as the Four Mountains Sword Sect Alliance, which is an alliance in the sense that they all agree to keep killing each other to within an acceptable minimum. The alliance would theoretically rise up as one to defend the empire, but doings are transpiring in the other game and so that's a murkier issue now.
The Shaolin are buddhist external martial artists, the largest and most respected sect in the Wulin, and claim to be the origin of all martial arts. Shaolin is considered the epitome of external martial arts and buddhist energy cultivation.
The Wudang are taoist internal martial artists, and are sort of the taoist answer to the Shaolin. They are highly respected within the Wulin and renown for their swordplay.
The Shaolin and Wudang classes are named after these sects, sort of, it's complicated, but they're not like prestige classes. The classes just represent external and internal martial arts, and the Shaolin and Wudang are the leading sects for both. So just because you have the Wudang class doesn't mean you're in the Wudang sect.
The Kunlun are also taoist internal martial artists, but they're less serene and more ambitious than the Wudang. They very badly want to become the number one sect in the Wulin and as a result the other sects are understandably weary of them.
The Emei are a relatively new sect, founded by the child of a great hero, and which consists primarily (although not exclusively) of women. They are not affiliated with any religion.
The Beggar's Sect practice all kinds of martial arts and are sort of beggar folk heroes. The beggar's sect has the largest and most reliable intelligence network in the world. Contrary to what you might think they have a much stricter code of ethics than the other sects.
Anyone can be a member of any of these sects, create your own sect, or just have a Shifu without any larger martial arts affiliations.
There's also the issue of languages:
Imperial Common is a standardization of a the diverse languages spoken in the central plains. It is a simplified language with a smaller, less aesthetically pleasing alphabet. Most poetry or works of any import is written in the regional dialects, but a lot of it is semi-intelligible to someone who knows common (much in the same way that someone who speaks latin can fumble their way through a lot of the Romance languages). All characters get Imperial Common for free, it's not a full language, and one of the regional dialects in place of the Common language they would usually receive.
Undercommon is an expanded common spoken by low-class city dwellers who lack a regional dialect. It is common spiced up with slang, criminal cant, and a tradition of incredibly colorful curses. Speaking it is a mark of low class, and since it has no formal vocabulary or structure it's virtually impossible for someone to learn who wasn't raised with it.
The regional dialects of the empire are Qing (spoken in the east), Zhu (spoken in the south), Bai (spoken in the west) and (Xuan) spoken in the North. Official business is conducted in Imperial common, but the language of the Xing scholarly class was Zhu (which is historically the scholarly language and which has the strongest tradition of poetry and song). Ever since the Weili came to power this has changed so that Xuan is the language of the scholarly classes.
The barbarian tribes in the desert have a number of different languages, and demons have a clan system each with a language.
You guys might want to decide which dialect you converse in. You could use common, but you lose a certain level of poetic meaning when you use just normal Common. Even Undercommon is much more expressive.
There's also a nearly-lost ancient language called Huang that all of these languages are based on. Huang means yellow, because there's a yellow dragon in the center. It has a very flowery idiosyncratic script that looks nice but can be hard to interpret. All of the modern alphabets are simplifications of it (although none more simple than that of Common, which most serious calligraphers won't touch).
The most commonly spoken dialect in the region the game with primarily take place in is Zhu.
RPG Superstar 2013 Top 32, RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16
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My concept is a Human Wudang/Fighter(Swordlord archetype). And sorry, the background for my character's human form turned out a little long.
--Human Form--
One day at the market with her mother and youngest brother, Yu Bái caught the attention of the magistrate's son. As one of the more beautiful and eligible young women of the village, it was natural that such a gem belong to the most powerful family in the district, or at least that is what passed through the mind of the magistrate's son. When he made his intentions known to Yu in a most insistent matter that bordered on the lewd and uncouth, her youngest brother took offense at such behavior and he challenged the magistrate's son to a duel for soiling her honor. While not unskilled in the ways of the martial arts, Yu's brother was sorely matched against the magistrate's son for like his father, he had a reputation as well as a skilled warrior that had trained under some of the best masters that money could buy.
The events that followed would lend the spark to countless tragic stories to be told for generations afterward. In predictable fashion, the youngest brother lost his duel with the magistrate's son and was mortally wounded in the fight. As he pasted away that night, his brothers vowed vengeance. Each day for rest of that week, the next oldest brother, each being better at the martial arts than his younger brothers, would seek out the magistrate's son and challenge him to a duel. Each would be bested and mortally wounded until the last day only the eldest brother remained. Yu was distraught over the death of five of her brothers, all who died for senseless reasons. Her father felt the same and on the thought of losing his last son, his heir, to a matter of honor, in a panic before the last duel was set to begin went to the magistrate and brokered a deal for his daughter to wed the magistrate's son.
With the prize he desired won and five victories under his belt to showcase his skill for all the villagers to see, the magistrate's son was ready to forget the eldest brother's challenge but his dismissive words incited the brother's anger all the more. Deaf to his parents and Yu's pleas, the eldest brother fought the magistrate's son. For all the witnesses that day, the two stood as equals in skill, speed, and strength and either could have been the victor. If not for the magistrate's words spoken with some volume to Yu's father that he would claim all their lands and fortune, making them paupers, if his son was unable to wed Yu as stipulated in the marriage contract freshly signed that distracted the eldest brother but for a single moment, he might have won. Instead, the magistrate's son made use of the distraction to slide his sword's blade through eldest brother's heart.
As the last of his heart blood leaked out of him, Yu held her eldest brother's head in her lap and shed tears for his death, a fire deep inside her flared to life. The light gone from his eyes, Yu laid her brother's head against the ground and reached for his sword. Though she had watched her brothers train many a time, Yu had never held a weapon before bigger than a kitchen knife. The heft of the sword felt odd at first but with every passing second it grew more comfortable. In a move that shocked the witnesses to her brother's duel only minutes before, Yu challenged the magistrate's son for the honor of her fallen brothers. The magistrate's son laughed at the thought that an untrained woman thought to fight him, accompanied by more than a few other laughs amongst the crowd. He moved to disarm the obviously hysterical woman that was to be his bride so that they could get on with the wedding planning when her sudden speed with her brother's sword surprised him.
More than a bit tired after the intense fight with the eldest brother, the magistrate's son blocks of Yu's frenzied slashes were slow. He needed to end the fight fast or one of them was going to get hurt so the magistrate's son attempted to knock Yu's blade away and follow up by taking her feet out from under her. Instead of Yu's blade flying far to the side and requiring too much time to come in for a followup strike, she used the momentum of the block to sweep her blade around and come back across what would have been his lower chest or stomach had he not now been going down to sweep her legs out from under her with a kick. The eldest brother's sword wielded by his sister cut across the throat of the ducking magistrate's son and with a spray of blood that spewed up into the air, the killer of Yu's brothers went to join them.
Silence reigned when the last gurgling breaths died away. It was broken by the screams of the magistrate for the town guard to arrest Yu. The heat of battle leaving her, Yu was confused at first but then panic set in as armored forms started pushing through the crowd toward her. Doing the only thing she could think to do, Yu ran in the opposite direction. She was aided by the uncooperative, un-moving villagers that didn't really much like the magistrate or his son or the guard in his payroll.
The story goes that she fled her village with nothing but the clothes on her back and her brother's sword, wandering from town to town and learning martial arts from those masters that would train her. Word is that maybe even the great sage Soft Snow Maiden herself might have taken young Yu under her guidance. Regardless, it is said she made a name for herself in the north, a swords-woman that felled those that used their power and money to prey on those unable to stand up and say 'NO!' They have a name for her there, Falling Snow, for her pale complexion and the foes she leaves strewn like untouched snow in her wake.
--Demon Form--
After the countless bloodshed, it took a coalition of Taoist and Buddhist priests to track her down and perform a banishing ceremony that destroyed her physical form and sent her spirit plunging into the dark abyss. But everyone knows a soul isn't so easily vanquished....
So, I just saw this and it sounds really interesting. How much longer will recruitment be open? I'd hate to start working on something only to find the game was already filled.
So, I just saw this and it sounds really interesting. How much longer will recruitment be open? I'd hate to start working on something only to find the game was already filled.
It says in the first post. One week from the 19th.
Character bit below, chose his name cause it sounded good. If I am saying it right that is. xP
Xuo is a Taoist priest and demon hunter. That being said if he did not wear the robes, wield the sword, or fulfill his duties as such none would think him one at all. He is prone to merriment with women and drink, acts of pettiness, and proposing generous donations for his services. While many think this the core of what he is and a disgrace to his sect, Xuo is not so shallow. He has a deep respect for life and all that it offers, taking his demon hunting seriously as well as the eradication of evil. Those who catch Xuo in the midst of battle find a icy swordsman without mercy or a ruthless fighter. While he prefers diplomacy and non violent solutions he knows that more often then not the best, at times only, path is one of combat.
Born to mountain folk Xuo was an oddity. For the mountains bred strong, big, and rugged folk. Yet Xuo was ever a slim boy of little brute strength and size. He was nimble as a jumping mountain goat and keen of mind. Too keen to be kept tucked away in the mountains, when he came of age he was sent south to some remote family, he learned much on his way there. Upon his arrival he found his distant cousins to be softer then even him in all ways but sharp witted by far, finding himself lacking in comparison. He spent his days studying and watching his cousins merchant work. He grew interested in Taoism while in the south, his interest quickly grew more personal. It was during this time that he received news of his home village being under a plague. Returning home, with a Taoist healer in tow by way of his cousins, he found his home in shambles. For it was no plague but the work of a spider demon. The Taoist priest was a healer but no stranger to the sword or ways of demons. He destroyed the creature and rescued what was left of the village. Sadly that did not include his parents. Upon his return to the south he drowned himself in all that could be had from women to drink to drugs. During one such fueled night he came across a lone woman being devoured by a demon down an alley. In his haze he felt a need to destroy the thing, rambling words half remembered from his priestly escort north. To both the surprise of the demon and young Xuo they took effect, driving the demon away in pain. After that night he swore to become a priest himself and destroy over a thousand demons before he died. If not more then any other priest their ever was or would be.
A little demon background for my boy Xou. :)
There was once a minor lord of the south. A generous and kind lord much loved by his people. Yet the lord was no fool, he knew how wicked the political games and those that played it could be and often were. So the lord was in turn wickedly cunning if not of temperament. His many rivals found their plans foiled and ruined at ever turn, always some how working in the lords favor. Increasing his own influence and wealth rather then diminishing it. The lord was also a family man, having a gentle and loving wife with no less then six children. His favorite by far was his first born and heir. The lordling was blessed with many things both physically, mentally, and even magically. Having shown signs of sorcerous power at a young age. Yet it was not to last, the lords rivals had passed their limit of disappointment. They allied with one another and did with brute force that they could not with schemes. Bring down the lord and his household in a single night. They sent an army of killers to murder the lords whole house, sack, and finally burn it to ashes. For the most part they were successful, only the lordling heir making it out alive. A combination of luck, timing, and his budding sorcerous power allowed him to escape into the near by lands. With news of his great losses sinking in, he imposed himself to exile in the near by forest of his father's lands. Tending to his hatred and sorcerous power.
Years later the lordling was gone, in his place was a dark sorcerer of great power. Extending his influence slowly in the criminal underworld he built a vast intelligence network and personal organization. He tracked down every single soul who had taken part in his families downfall. Ruining them in every sense until he finally killed them and took their souls, denying them even the escape of death. His actions did not go unnoticed, heaven bore witness to his growing darkness and seemingly eternal hatred. Upon the death and soul capture of his last victim of vengeance he was cursed by the heavens for his unrepentant evil.
So was he stripped of his sorcerous power and barely human form. For the heavens had turned him into the snake that seemed so fitting of his nature. Yet they did not rob him of his sense of self or memories. His hatred endured and so did his cunning mind. Making use of his new form he spied upon sages and foul sorcerers in turn, gathering knowledge of the mystic arts that had once come purely from his will. He learned how to bring out magic with knowledge alone and to climb his way back up from his lowly station.
Through countless years and the study of mystic secrets stolen from others was born the snake demon Silver Fang. Not simply a master of magic but a master of poison, blood, and souls. Having developed a hatred for humanity and the heavens they hold so dear, he grew to learn a truth of his own making. Humanity was unworthy, those of mixed blood were the more perfect beings. Half blood and so called tainted beings were more worthy, closer to the world and truth then humans could ever be. So did he become their patron and enemy of all pure humans. By poison, blood, or magic he would wipe away all the lacking humans from under heaven and put in their stead those that shared much more in common with their world.
Well hopefully it's a decent read. A little side question if I may. How do you feel about cohorts via the leadership feat? Also would you object to a strange (monster) cohort?
I was thinking of Xou having a pipefox cohort, class levels would bring it up to fit cohort level.
He would act as a sort of compass/restraint for Xou's more frown upon or un priestly actions. Trying to keep him on the path of a proper priest with suggestions and sagely advice when he needed it. If not a right out reprimand when he is being stubborn or something.
I should have posted all this yesterday but I decided to sleep instead. I regret nothing.
My concept is a Human Wudang/Fighter(Swordlord archetype).
In that case you're probably better off going straight Wudang for the Qinggong. It really helps during set-piece fights, of which you can expect more than one.
This one's long so let's break it down:
a skilled warrior that had trained under some of the best masters that money could buy.
This brings to mind Yang Kang and his entourage of evil martial artist retainers.
Though she had watched her brothers train many a time, Yu had never held a weapon before bigger than a kitchen knife.
Then she dies horribly. It completely doesn't mesh with the basic assumptions of the setting for being upset about something to make you better at kung fu than someone with actual training. She could have practiced with her brothers, or run away to learn kung fu and come back to kill the magistrate's son, but it strains credulity too far for her to kill the guy who beat all her brothers with zero training.
Maybe each of her brothers taught her a little bit, not taking her very seriously, but in aggregate she ended up learning the totality of their skills combined. That saves a lot of the essence of your story without having the element of emotion power.
Also, based on this story, I feel like your family probably practiced some secret familial martial art passed down from generation to generation. It fits the flow the best.
Word is that maybe even the great sage Soft Snow Maiden herself might have taken young Yu under her guidance.
The Soft Snow Maiden is the leader of the Emei sect, which your character can be a member of if you like. It's like having a kung fu prison gang to back you up if s%&~ gets real.
Fire Blossom
I like the weird twisted parallels between this and your backstory.
And sorry, the background for my character's human form turned out a little long.
It might take me a little later to get to it, but I like long. As long as it fits on few enough pages to run a stapler through I'm good.
A little side question if I may. How do you feel about cohorts via the leadership feat? Also would you object to a strange (monster) cohort?
Unless it's staggeringly vital to the concept, I don't like PCs to start with the Leadership feat, because I feel like that's robbing the game of a cool story. So if you want to work towards leadership and take it as your first new feat in-game that works for me. The way I do leveling in Wuxia games they actually do it a lot faster than a typical PBP so it's not outside of the realm of possibility.
You can still have your pipefox without leadership, but it'll be an NPC and not related to anything on your character sheet (and therefore not something you're "entitled" to, so I won't feel bad if it causes you more trouble than it's worth). Or you could wait and acquire it in-game.
I'm also super in favor of using leadership to found your own martial arts sect, but again that would be something I'd rather play out in-game. In general I want to tell all the really interesting stories for your character in-game.
And, understanding all of my many many caveats, I'm otherwise totally cool with all manner of strange cohorts.
Xuo is a Taoist priest and demon hunter.
That being said if he did not wear the robes, wield the sword, or fulfill his duties as such none would think him one at all. He is prone to merriment with women and drink, acts of pettiness, and proposing generous donations for his services.
I think this gag works better if he does wear his priestly vestments, so that while he's up to all these shenanigans people can easily identify him as a priest. Your call though.
The Lordling, The Snake, and The Demon
Good stuff.
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OK, refinements for the character....
As for his cousin, let me change his death to that of a peasant killing him after a heated exchange regarding the peasant's wife. Then Wei would leave after the authorities would put the peasant away for murder, which Wei did not agree with. He could not persuade the authorities to let the man free, so he decided to leave before he himself succumbed to the corruption and malice surrounding him.
Now, the demon went on to possess other men, and did much the same as before, but this time he ran across a man that could fight the demon's control. The man could not resist the demon's control much more, so before he lost the battle and before the demon could escape, he took his own life, trapping the demon in an eternal state of nothingness. The only escape from the in-between world was to go back as a mortal and attempt to atone for his transgressions.
Once he had been weaned he was given over to the care of an older couple. His adoptive father was a sukong to many in the Snake Style popular in their village. Xian excelled in his studies and it seemed to come to him almost too easily much to the chagrin of his father who valued hard work in exchange for skill. He taught that perseverance tempered ego. This was in direct contrast to the hissing whispers that had always writhed through his dreams teaching him of entitlement, self worth and greed. Before long the student had surpassed the master and left his village behind to seek out the truth of both philosophies on his own.
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RPG Superstar 2013 Top 32, RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16
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In that case you're probably better off going straight Wudang for the Qinggong. It really helps during set-piece fights, of which you can expect more than one.
Probably the best as I wasn't really feeling some of the things fighter was bringing to the table.
Then she dies horribly. It completely doesn't mesh with the basic assumptions of the setting for being upset about something to make you better at kung fu than someone with actual training. She could have practiced with her brothers, or run away to learn kung fu and come back to kill the magistrate's son, but it strains credulity too far for her to kill the guy who beat all her brothers with zero training.
Maybe each of her brothers taught her a little bit, not taking her very seriously, but in aggregate she ended up learning the totality of their skills combined. That saves a lot of the essence of your story without having the element of emotion power.
Also, based on this story, I feel like your family probably practiced some secret familial martial art passed down from generation to generation. It fits the flow the best.
I'll plead guilty to the crime of creating unrealistic expectations in pursuit of a more dramatic story. I'll make some edits this weekend to touch it up with your feedback in mind.
The Soft Snow Maiden is the leader of the Emei sect, which your character can be a member of if you like. It's like having a kung fu prison gang to back you up if s@&~ gets real.
Okay, I wasn't sure which faction she was part of but hoped it was that one. I'll weave that in when I go back to make edits.
I like the weird twisted parallels between this and your backstory.
Intentional as I thought Karma should play a big role in the story of a reincarnated demon. What crimes you reap in one life will come back to plague you in turn in the next.
So, this is my idea of for the demon, but I don't quite have much fleshed out yet to for the martial artist. I'm thinking I'll go full Shaolin with an unarmed combat style emphasizing long lashing strikes like that of an octopus.
Long ago there was a giant octopus known as Jìmò. Through a series of events he gained a minor sense of awareness. Jìmò began to think and ponder about the world. On a regular bases he would call the animals that lived near his ocean bay home to counsel with him and share what knowledge they had learned. Some of the lesser animals were quick to share, but their contributions were almost always the same. “The grass is good. The air is warm. I like the sun.” These animals quickly bored Jìmò and the octopus began to ignore them and their mindless thoughts. The wiser animals offered him more interesting ideas to ponder, but were given little in return for their thoughts and thus began to visit the octopus less and less.
Driven by his desire to understand something of the world beyond his home, Jìmò became quite frustrated. While he was free to ponder his own thoughts, he was trapped and unable to learn anything of the world beyond his ocean home. As this frustration consumed him, time passed on. Jìmò fell into a deeper and deeper brooding. Soon he became jealous of the animals of land and air. He began to call animals together to meet and council. Each time however, he would lure them close to the water’s edge and drown them with his mighty arms. After all, if he could not experience life, why should he allow others too?
As the years progressed, fewer and fewer animals came to Jìmò and he turned his frustration to the villages of humans that resided up and down the coast. He took great pleasure in swimming to port towns and consuming the villagers or crushing the mighty ships of the heavenly empire. His actions however, did not go unnoticed.
The heavenly army was assembled and the octopus was brought to face his crimes. Rather than destroy his soul or torture him for eternity, Jìmò was forced to return to his home as a human and would not be able to return his true form without making the needed restitutions to the people he had harmed. The catch however: he would have no memory of his previous actions.
Wei was introduced to martial training by his oppressive cousin, who was a retired soldier. He decided the best way to look after the boy was to introduce him to the hardships of war. Wei was lucky enough to have a master swordsman Li Kung Kao as his instructor. He taught the boy the way of the sword and opened the young man's mind. The teacher was old, and decided to pass his teachings on to his protege. He immersed the student in single-minded devotion to the art of the sword. His skill grew in leaps and bounds, much to the delight of the elderly teacher. The old man grew ill, and called his student in for his final lesson. He made him swear that he would only use his skill to right wrongs, and not use it for the wrong reason, like his cousin. The boy swore, and saw his master off to the afterlife.
Maybe his teacher was a wandering swordsman who was begging at his cousin for some position in his household, and he hired him to train your character sort of as a joke, like "okay this clown can teach my idiot cousin swordplay and they can waste each-other's time instead of mine". But the swordsman was actually a secret master who was trying to live a simple life in retirement and, after getting to know your character and deciding her was a good person, decided to actually teach him what he knew.
Then when he was dying the last thing he taught him was like the capstone technique of his school, which he wasn't sure whether he could trust him with (it could be one of your neijing abilities).
The guy could have been one of the previous generation of the "Six Sages", which is the term for the six most powerful martial artists in the world.
Edit: My internet is being weird, I'm going to try to respond to everything tonight but it's taking forever to load anything at the moment.
I think you misunderstood me Captain. He does wear his priest outfit when he does all those things. Just making a point that he acts nothing like what is expected of a priest in his position. x)
Considering your response on the leadership feat I am fine waiting for it. I just hope Xuo Shou is not too far out there without his little friend to keep him somewhat close to in line. I just find the thought of a pipefox as a cohort for a life loving type like him to be amusing. He sure can't smoke anymore, the little tyrant seems to hide in every pipe he puts to his lips then blames him for dirtying his home. Honestly! :D
As for his cousin, let me change his death to that of a peasant killing him after a heated exchange regarding the peasant's wife.
Less dramatic, but it works.
The only escape from the in-between world was to go back as a mortal and attempt to atone for his transgressions.
Or maybe it sucked him back into the cycle of reincarnation.
Xian
Born under auspicious circumstances in Snake Village
Neat
His adoptive father was a sukong to many in the Snake Style popular in their village
His father must have been an important personage in the village, because Snake Village is a martial artsocracy. The Chieftain of the village is also the grandmaster of the Snake School of martial arts.
They'd totally want to teach it to weird egg kid though, that's a given. A member of the snake village has already achieved apotheosis so they're cagey about this kind of thing.
The Demon Jìmò
Jimo is cool and everything, but a sketch of your character character is more important at this stage.
I think you misunderstood me Captain. He does wear his priest outfit when he does all those things. Just making a point that he acts nothing like what is expected of a priest in his position.
So ka, I must have misread it.
In the process of building Xuo Shou's crunch. So just wondering is their is a pathfinder version of a jian? Sense most finesseable weapons are too small or western based. Figured the jian sword is both light enough and setting fitting.