DISPOSABLE DISCIPLES SESSION 63: NOTHING MORE THAN WORDS

This is a log for my ongoing Disposable Disciples of Bone Kingdom campaign. You can see the previous session log HERE.  Note that I began recording sessions, so this has allowed me to do more detailed session logs.

Player Characters: 
Shen Chun/Crazed Raksha
Little Bai
Lu Jing 
Ong Lao
Min (Feiyan)

Disciples of the Sect: 
Red Eagle (Little Bai)
Dim-Witted Chen (Shen Chun)
Xiaomei 

Sects Alliances: 

GOLDEN WAY ALLIANCE 
An alliance of orthodox sects lead by Shen Chun (Zhao Kang-Green Cat Kang) and his wife Da Mei Mei. They wield the wind saber of Sunan and the Phoenix Crown of Bao. Their alliance includes Temple of the Jade Mercies, remnants of Relentless Corpse Sect, Purple Cavern Sect, Nature Loving Monk Sect, Dehua Sect, Golden Dragon Sect and connections with the House of Paper Shadows. 

THE SOUTH WIND SOCIETY 
Rivals to the Golden Way, they have been absorbing sects in the south and in Hai'an. They are led by Cunning Dragon and have absorbed: Tree Dwelling Nuns, Perfect Heaven Lineage, Southern River Sect, Sun Mai Sect, Glorious Death Cult, Crescent Moon Sect, and a small group lead by Silent Dagger. 

Rulers:

Zhen Dao Empire: Emperor Zhao
Hai'an: Queen Ai Nu
Li Fan: King Yuan

The party continued on their way to Nansun to speak with the emperor. There they waited hours in a long line before being granted an audience and were greeted by Senior Grand Councilor Ren Xu as the emperor remained seated and motionless behind him. The senior grand councilor asked what they had come for. 

"We have come to ask the Emperor for assistance in our war against the South Wind Society," Said Shen Chun*. 

"But the emperor has already given you his support; have you not received his gate plaques honoring your many virtues?"

"Yes we have....but this is nothing more than words, we need real support."

"Do not dismiss the emperor's kind words," Said Senior Grand Councilor Ren Xu. "The words of the emperor have power in this empire. Speaking of which..."

The Senior Grand Councilor motioned for servants to bring forth a bundled gift. Before it even reached him, Shen Chun could tell by the size and shape it was another plaque.

"This," Said the Senior Grand Councilor, "Is a Lane Gate plaque. Please place it on the gate at your headquarters facing the main road, for the plaque reads 'The Golden Way' and that road shall now carry your name."

Shen Chun asked permission to let one of his subordinates, Red Crane, speak with the Senior Grand Councilor. 

Red Crane explained that they needed money or soldiers to help them destroy the South Wind Society. 

The Senior Grand Councilor indicated that the king had to be careful in overtly favoring Shen Chun. He also reminded him that all know to respect the words of the emperor and the plaques should mobilize the virtuous. 

Shen Chun thanked the Emperor for the gifts and asked if the emperor could help him organize a formal duel between himself and Cunning Dragon, the leader of the South Wind Society, by declaring the battle site neutral ground, forbidding any from interfering. 

The Senior Grand Councilor listened to the Emperor's whispered response and said the declaration would be made but that the fight should occur before the Weeping Fire Gate of Yun Hu. A date was set for the first of the Owl Moon, and Shen Chun left. On their way back, they examined the plaque and noticed it was made of gold. There was talk of melting the plaques down and selling the gold. 

When they returned Shen Chun received Lingsu who gave his formal report on the crab-like armor suit they had taken from Xiao Hai (a man from the future). He said the technology of the suit was beyond him but he knew that there was a great engineer living in Naqan named Gor-Yaum. If they contacted him, they could persuade him to come and examine the suit. He also thought it might be worth considering hiring a Ritual Master to make the suit spirited. 

"For I was examining the records of our sect," Said Lingsu. "It appears that before you took over, the previous leader, Bao Yang, had made some spirited monkeys, by feeding normal monkeys Qi energy. The records do not say how he did this, but I took the liberty of inviting Ritual Master Lu Jing to appear here today. He is awaiting an audience."

Shen Chun nodded and said he would like to speak with Lu Jing. He also asked about Xiao Hai, the man from the future.

"He is arrogant and very rude, Master, I believe he will be useful though. He has knowledge of the suit and he may be able to help us repair it properly."

Shen Chun nodded and had Lu Jing brought in. 

Lu Jing asked to examine the suit. He did so and informed Shen Chun that he could make it spirited, but due to its size and nature, he believed he would not have any real control over it. He did say, he may be able to exert influence over Xiao Hai using his magic. 

He and Shen Chun discussed a contract and agreed he would serve 1 year for 1 million spades. 

Over the next few days, Shen Chun awaited the response of Cunning Dragon, who agreed to a duel provided they could each bring one witness. Shen Chun then spoke with his informant from the House of Paper Shadows who told him that Cunning Dragon had been placing hundreds of him men in the northern Banyon. Shen Chun increased patrols and began preparing for his duel. 

Lu Jing went to Yun Hu first. There he used his Song of Heart Compulsion Ritual to enchant two Martial Heroes: Jade-Faced Fox and Pei Jiangnu. The former used two golden hammers, while the latter used a spear. They followed him around the city until Shen Chun arrived with Min and Ong. 

When Shen Chun, Min, Ong and Lu Jing reached the Weeping Fire Gate at the appointed hour, they found Cunning Dragon there with Ferocious Flower glowering next to him. There was also a black drape covering the name of the gate completely. 

Suspicious Shen Chun asked Cunning Dragon if he had placed the drape there as part of a trick. Cunning Dragon said no. 

Ong went and removed the drape and it revealed the following words "Crazed Raksha Gate". 

Not sure what to make of it, Shen Chun asked for the terms of the duel. It was agreed that if Shen Chun lost, he would give the Wind Sabre and Phoenix Crown to Cunning Dragon. But if Cunning Dragon Lost he would disband his South Wind Society. 

Shen Chun got into a stance and they circled each other. Cunning Dragon tried to his his fist of Iron God Meng but missed. They traded blows and when Cunning Dragon seized upon him with Flesh Ripping Fingers, Shen Chun Infinite Counter of the Phoenix to stop the attack. The effect paralyzed cunning Dragon so that Shen Chun could assail him until he collapsed. This enraged Ferocious Flower, who held up her arms (her hands had been severed by Shen Chun) and unleashed a powerful blast of golden Qi energy on him. This struck Shen Chun and Min and Ong responded by attacking her. As he was struck, a light beam of light flared from the name plaque on the gate and washed Shen Chun over, healing him of his injuries. Shen Chun then used his iron threads to bring down Ferocious Flower and handed her to Lu Jing (who buried her and turned her into a Green Guardian over the next three days). 

Shen Chun walked over to Cunning Dragon and helped him up.

"You are too late Shen Chun," Cunning Dragon said. "I've already won."

"What do you mean, you don't intend to abide by the terms of our fight?"

"Terms? I agreed to disband my organization, but I never said for how long. Anyways, you have bigger problems. If you run back to your sect now you might be able to save your wife and child, but I cannot guarantee it."

Shen Chun sent Min and Ong to scout the sect. They travelled along the road from Yun Hu. First they came upon the charred remains of a wagon and the dead bodies of merchants. It looked as thought the caravan had been hit with divine fire. There was a charred line leading to the wagon from further up the road. They followed and found more bodies. Eventually they found clustered of burned and charred South Wind Sect disciples. Arrived back the headquarters they found the site of a large battle, with a pile of bodies. Examining the corpses they too appeared to be South Wind Society men. There were members of Golden Way Sect dragging bodies for burial. 

Min asked them what had happened, they said that there was a great battle but the Lane Gate Plaque illuminated and sent out massive bolts of fire and electricity, killing all in its path who did not belong to the Golden Way. 

They walked to the headquarters and found Da Mei Mei issuing orders to have the wounded treated. In all they had lost only about 30 men, to the South Wind Society's 300. Da Mei Mei informed them that Cunning Dragon had trained a group of 300 disciples all to know Flight of the Hawk so they could swoop in past the Golden Way's patrols and scouts.  They landed at the sect headquarters entrance but were quickly met with her disciples. Within moments the gate killed the enemy, as well as any unfortunate people not belonging to the sect who just happened to be in the area. 

This is where the session ended. 

*This is complicated but Shen Chun traveled back in time, changing many things in the present he came back to. One change was his name. In this timeline people refer to him as Kang Xi and occasionally call him Green Cat Kang. However his real named is Shen Chun and his true Martial Nickname is Crazed Raksha.