GAMING STRANGE TALES FROM A CHINESE STUDIO: GRACE AND PINE

Art by Jackie Musto 

I have been making monsters, NPCs and scenarios for Wandering Heroes of Ogre Gate, based on each story in Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio by Pu Songling. Occasionally I skip one or two that don't seem immediately gameable (hoping to get back to them), but otherwise I going from one entry to the next in the penguin edition (translated by John Minford). You can see my previous entry HERE. This entry is inspired by the story Grace and Pine, which is about a Confucian descendent named Kong Xueli who befriends a family at Shan manor, only to learn that they are really spirited foxes. It is a little longer than some of the other entries and a little more engaging as a result. Ultimately it is a story of friendship and love as he marries Pine, one of the fox's cousins, and helps them through a fated calamity. After the calamity the foxes move in with him and stay in a secret area of his residence. The name of the story comes from the two major female characters in the story: Grace and Pine. An adventure around a fated calamity is something I would like to explore at some point, but because Kong and Pine have a son who carries trace characteristics of his fox lineage, I decided to create a new Player Character race for the game: Half-Fox. 

HALF-FOX
Advantages: 1 Free Skill Rank in Wits, Speed and Persuade 
Penalties: -1d10 to Muscle, -1d10 to all Trade skills, -1 Max Wound
Gift: Random Fox Ability 

Half-Foxes look like humans but have fine features and sharp eye-brows. They tend to be handsome or beautiful as well as graceful. The product of a union between a mortal parent and a spirited fox, Half-Foxes are blessed special ability from their fox lineage. This varies from individual and is difficult to predict before birth. 

Every Half-Fox is gifted with a supernatural ability from their fox parent. Roll on the following table to determine which ability they have (and see the entries below for details). 

Half-Fox Abilities Table
Roll 1d10     Result
1-4               Fox Form
5-7               Illusions 
8-9               Borrow Appearance 
10                Captivation


Captivation: With this ability the Half-Fox can use its Persuade skill to induce trust. This is magical in nature. Roll Persuade against Resolve. On a Success the target feels a sense of adoration and trust toward the Half-Fox. They won't act against there own will but they will refuse to believe anything bad about the Half-Fox, even in the present of overwhelming evidence. This lasts a day. 

Borrow Appearance: Once per day, for an hour per day, a Half-Fox can borrow the facial features of person they have had time to study. Taking a wound causes this to fade immediately. 

Illusions: Half-Foxes can create illusions with words. Whatever you suggest to someone, may be glimpsed as a brief illusion, not more than a handful of seconds. Make a Deception roll against the Target's Wits. On a success they see what you tell them to see for 1d10 seconds. 

Fox Form: Once per day and for one hour per day, a Half-Fox can assume the form of a fox. 

FOX FORM

Defenses: Hardiness 3, Evade 8, Parry 2, Stealth 8, Wits Varies, Resolve Varies

Key Skills: Bite: 1d10 (Damage 1d10), Speed: 4d10 (70 feet), Muscle: 1d10, Detect: 3d10

Max Wounds: 1

Powers

Track: Foxes can use their Detect Skill to track scent.