PATHS FROM NOWHERE SESSION 16

This is a sandbox campaign for Wandering Heroes of Ogre Gate, operating in "Condor Heroes Mode". I used a lot of the procedures described in the wuxia sandbox posts. It is a campaign with three players. Before the campaign started we spent time establishing their family connections, rolling randomly for both their mothers and fathers (normally only one parent is randomly rolled, but in this case we wanted characters with potentially scandalous backgrounds). These characters each started play with just one Kung Fu Technique. 

CHARACTERS

XIANG GUIYING: The daughter of Jade Fist of Twin Fisted Eagle sect and Pale Fox, a notorious bandit. She is seeking pelts from Pearl Tigers. She is beautiful but wears a disguise to hide this from others. 

ZHENG BAO: Short and burly, he is the son of Zhang San of Bone Breaking Sect and of Reckless Storm. However San is married to Chen and has maintained the presence that Bao is Chen's son. Unfortunately due to crucial background information, Chen knows that Bao cannot be his son so is distant. Zheng Bao's uncle, Bone Breaker, is fond of him. He is seeking the Thousand Painful Deaths Flower to please his uncle. 

PAN JU (MOGHA): The son of the Witch of Zhaoze Zhou and Nergui Mogha, Pan Ju grew up in the Kushen Basin but has returned to the Banyan and Hai'an, where he knows his mother resides.   

THE BOUNDLESS STONE 

The party contemplated the words "Hen-Shi's compassion is boundless and mighty as this stone". 

"What should we do with it?" Asked Guiying. 

Zheng Bao asked Feng Min what she thought of the words and how the stone came to be re-written before their eyes. 

"I think a mercy of Hen-Shi took the stone and reformed it to reflect the true teachings."

"What Hen-Shi showed us mercy?" Asked Guiying.

"No," Said Feng Min. "A Mercy, an enlightened being of of Hen-Shi appeared and reshaped the stone."

"Should we carry it with us, or put it somewhere safe?" Asked Guiying. 

"I want to build a temple around it and place it in a pagoda," Said Feng Min. "The message must be promulgated. It will counter the teachings of the sandstone sutra." 

Knowing Zheng Bao was moved by the teachings of Hen-Shi and the mystery of the stone, she suggested he shave his head on the shore and become a monk saying she could ordain him. Zheng Bao said he could not as he still had to tend to his master, but promised to carry the stone and protect it until she built her temple. 

From there the party decided to go back to Lady Yang's manor, with the aim of encouraging her to reform, but resolved to kill if they needed to. 

THE HEART OF THE BAMBOO PLUME 

They sailed back to Yang Manor and reached the dense ring of bamboo forest surrounding her estate. Pan Ju helmed the boat while Feng Min recited the words from the Boundless Stone. Zheng Bao unleashed a relentless attack on the forest, using his Iron Spear of the Timeless Master to blast it from a distance. 

When the trees exploded a plume of thick black smoke vented from the shafts and dissipated after several minutes. There was commotion and disciples of the manor began taking position to block them. 

"Clear a path, I do not wish to kill you, but am set on clearing way, step aside or you will die," Said Zheng Bao.

The disciples readied their bows and he sent another explosion of energy, clearing more forest and killing the disciples. This revealed an opening to the manor, which rested on a small island in the swamp. The ring of trees had been 300 feet thick and through them he could see a woman in red and an armed man beside her. 

"You have killed my disciples and trespassed Yang Manor," She said. 

"You will come with us Lady Yang," Said Zheng Bao, "We must bring you to justice for your crimes. Who is that man beside you?"

"This is Captain Yi and you are a hypocrite. I am only guilty of being a dutiful daughter," she said. "If you want to face your death in a dignified manner, then approach so we can face one another fairly, otherwise I will send you into the swamp from where I stand."

Guiying whispered "I will go test her skills," then leapt into action, using great stride to appear next to Lady Yang. 

Zheng Bao and Feng Min began chanting the words from the stone together, and this made Guying's hands feel more certain*.

Using Finger of Supreme Annihilation, Guiying flooded Lady Yang's body with hot energy. 

Lady Yang's hands fumed with a molten red, and she went to palm strike Guiying, who leapt away. 

Captain Yi then tried to skewer Guiying with a series of lightning fast spear strokes, but again she whirled into the air to escape the attack. 

Pan Ju piloted the boat closer to the action while Feng Min and Zheng Bao continued to chant the sutra. 

The energy pulsing through Lady Yang's body from Guiying's attack, continued to course and harm her internal organs. 

Guiying attempted to strike Lady Yang with her Finger of Supreme Disruption but Lady Yang soared into the air to evade her touch. 

Once again Lady Yang attempted to palm strike Guiying with her smoldering hands but she was able to leap away**.

Captain Yi tried to stab her where she landed, but she jumped back into the air to slip from his attack. 

Lady Yang was beginning to feel weak from Guiying's attack, her body still flowing with the overwhelming hot energy. 

Pan Ju continued to pilot the boat closer, this time reaching within fifteen feet of the shore. 

Zheng Bao stopped chanting and leapt onto the sand, then charged Lady Yang but missed. 

Guiying touched Lady Yang's Forehead, sending more hot energy into her body, with the Finger of Supreme Disruption. 

In a furious rage, Lady Yang reached for Guiying, but her opponent leapt again into the air to escape her. 

Feng Min ran up from the boat and brought both of her fists against either side of Lady Yang's head with a crash. 

Pan Ju jumped from the boat and tried to land a kick of the golden elephant, but Lady Yang whirled out of the way. 

Seconds later, Lady Yang collapsed on the ground, overwhelmed by the heat still coursing through her body she began to die. 

Pan Ju prevented her death with the Finger of Supreme Compassion, then Zheng Bao placed the Boundless Stone on top of her. 

Lady Yang's body flooded the stone with blue light and she began to heal. 

Weeping she read the words. 

"Do you understand the words meaning properly Lady Yang?" Asked Zheng Bao. 

"Yes," she said.

He removed the stone from her chest and she kowtowed to it. 

Zheng Bao offered his apologies for killing her father. 

"Our grudge is settled, there is no enmity between us any longer." She said. 

"Does that mean the contracts on us are rescinded?" Asked Guying. 

She nodded to Captain Yi. "The contracts will be rescinded."

 

*This conferred a +2d10 bonus 

**She was also getting +2d10 to her counters from the chanting 

NEW PROFOUND MASTERS OF OGRE GATE PLAYTEST NOTES

I started play testing my New Profound Masters of Ogre Gate material last night with a focus on combat with gods. This is just something I am working on that is for my present campaigns. It may become a large blog entry or perhaps a book if there is enough material. It is done in the spirit of New Dragon Inn, meaning it is a new take on the Profound Masters levels for Ogre Gate, where I can be more liberal in my interpretation of the original rules. 

In this session the players all made high level immortals (Qi rank 24). They were given one powerful Celestial Weapon and also each given two new Insights from tables I made recently. Then we had a battle between them and Xian Nu Shen, the Enlightened Goddess. 

Initially they had some difficulty. Some characters were more vulnerable than others as there are abilities that cap damage. The Enlightened Goddess has such an ability called Jade Heart, which means she can't take more than 10 wounds from an attack. But two of the Immortal Characters had a similar ability capping their damage from individual attacks at 20 (something they would need as the Enlightened Goddess' sword alone does +25 Extra Wounds. One player was able to fend off her sword attacks with his Iron Heart Reversal, making it so he only took half damage. Another player couldn't withstand her attacks and took 20 points of damage due to the cap. The third character managed to block the attack completely. 

While things were difficult for them at first, they very quickly realized a profound technique that would limit her considerably, called The Clamoring Laughter of Ancient Gray Demon, was something they all knew. Due to this and another attack, her hardiness was lowered when she moved. However she opted to continue moving so she could cut a hole in reality with her sword to suck the players through, which reduced her to 1 Hardiness. The players all made their Muscle TN 10 rolls to avoid getting obliterated from existence, and managed to reduce her Hardiness to zero with further attacks. They then threw her into the tear in the sky and the Enlightened Goddess was annihilated. 

After the battle one thing that was observed was immortal characters lacked a defining quality. They felt, at least in this battle, more like high level profound characters. After some discussion, I added this to the list of abilities all immortals get and we will see if that improves things: 

Path Power: Select one profound technique that defines your character. Your character can now use this technique even in actions not related to its usage. You can always use it freely as an action without taking imbalance points. Players should describe how they use this feature of their character freely and the GM should adjudicate it openly and creatively, applying bonuses and effects when it seems appropriate to the description of the technique.

This is just the first real combat test of this stuff. But I liked how things functioned so far. And I am hopeful about the use of this new Immortal Ability. It was an isolated test though, with the party and the Enlightened Goddess squaring off with no real context beyond location. In a normal campaign circumstances might be very different. My goal is to make these kinds of battles possible but not a cake walk. 

I am also looking at XP spending at the higher levels and considering special features players can spend XP on at the immortal levels during downtime (things like celestial geography and sect building). 

PATHS FROM NOWHERE SESSION 15

This is a sandbox campaign for Wandering Heroes of Ogre Gate, operating in "Condor Heroes Mode". I used a lot of the procedures described in the wuxia sandbox posts. It is a campaign with three players. Before the campaign started we spent time establishing their family connections, rolling randomly for both their mothers and fathers (normally only one parent is randomly rolled, but in this case we wanted characters with potentially scandalous backgrounds). These characters each started play with just one Kung Fu Technique. 

CHARACTERS

XIANG GUIYING: The daughter of Jade Fist of Twin Fisted Eagle sect and Pale Fox, a notorious bandit. She is seeking pelts from Pearl Tigers. She is beautiful but wears a disguise to hide this from others. 

ZHENG BAO: Short and burly, he is the son of Zhang San of Bone Breaking Sect and of Reckless Storm. However San is married to Chen and has maintained the presence that Bao is Chen's son. Unfortunately due to crucial background information, Chen knows that Bao cannot be his son so is distant. Zheng Bao's uncle, Bone Breaker, is fond of him. He is seeking the Thousand Painful Deaths Flower to please his uncle. 

PAN JU (MOGHA): The son of the Witch of Zhaoze Zhou and Nergui Mogha, Pan Ju grew up in the Kushen Basin but has returned to the Banyan and Hai'an, where he knows his mother resides.   

KARMA IS KARMA 

The party headed towards Dee to meet Jade Swallow. On the way they noticed a bald man in robes following them. Zheng Bao shouted to him and he approached. As he got closer they could see he was a monk of Hen-Shi. 

He bowed to Pan Ju and said "You are Pan Ju?"

Art by Jackie Musto 

Pan Ju confirmed his identity. 

"My Master, Abbess Sun Ming, who resides on the peak of Mount Hai'an, would like to introduce herself to you in person if you accept her hospitality."

"We have an important matter to deal with in Dee," said Pan Ju. "But when I am done I shall like to meet her."

The monk handed Pan Ju a dowsing rod and said "A gift from my master."

He bowed and departed. 

Examining the dowsing rod, Feng Min informed them it was used to find spirited beasts. 

They continued towards Dee, taking a ship by river from Huisheng. As they travelled the party contemplated calling themselves the Young Tigers or the Tigers of Hen-Shi. 

In Dee they spoke with one of the local Bao Chiefs, Lu Anzhi, who said he could take them to Jade Swallow. He brought them to a small house and showed them a set of stairs. 

"She is up there," He said. 

They found her in the upper floors, meditating and wearing a head scarf. Strands of purple hair fell from the headdress and her hands appeared dark red. 

"Be seated." She said. 

She asked Zheng Bao about his travels and he explained everything, including their dealings with the Jade Maidens. He advised against her taking revenge on them. 

"I have no enmity with the Jade Maidens," She said. "My power has broken through to the next level, following my fight with Lady Yang. But now I am facing an obstruction. Soon I will elevate you as well. 

"We are heading to finish Lady Yang," Said Zheng Bao. "Shall you come with us master?"

"I must recuperate and overcome this hurdle," She said. "You can wait some months for me and we can go together, or if you feel strong enough to face her, you may strike at her on your own. I leave the choice to you."

"Is Lady Yang more powerful than you Master?"

"Yes but not by a great degree, and soon I will eclipse her."

The party discussed and leaned towards going to face her immediately. 

"I recommend you take out her guards first, then handle her alone," Said Jade Swallow. 

She showed them her red hands. "These stains are not from facing Lady Yang, they come from my past. I have no enmity with the Jade Maidens because when Abbess Zhuang Ba killed my husband, he and I had been robbing and murdering people with abandon. She showed me mercy by only killing him and letting me live. These stains are from my crimes, they appeared as I approached a greater level of mastery in the past few days."

They asked Feng Min if she knew a way to remove the stains from Jade Swallows hands, but she could offer no solution. 

"Master," Said Zheng Bao. "We will face Lady Yang. Should we show her mercy as you were shown mercy?"

"If she can be persuaded to stop her evil ways, to end her pursuit of this grudge, then yes. Otherwise do what you must."

As they left and were out of earshot from Jade Swallow, Feng Min quietly whispered to them "Karma is karma." 

THE BLOOD SUTRA 

They moved deep into the Whispering Swamp and trudged through the salt-soaked earth till they came upon a rock jutting from the mud. 

Zheng Bao approached and saw writing on its surface. 

"Hands stained like the red of this sandstone shall toil in the underworld...."

He beckoned over the rest of the group and asked Feng Min if she knew what it was. 

"That looks like the first line of the sandstone sutra."

They moved the stone and saw more lines that ended with "And the righteous should meet their cruelty with bloodshed."

Again Zheng Bao asked for Feng Min's thoughts on the sutra. 

"I believe it is highly unorthodox, not an authentic sutra. It contradicts Hen-Shi's teachings. We must be firm when dealing with belligerent evils but this goes too far."

After further conversation Zheng Bao took his spear tip and etched his own words into the stone: "Blood begets only more blood, Compassion is the way of peace"

"This seems likely to be related to the Sandstone Nun," Said Guiying. 

Blood began to seep from the lines Zheng Bao carved into the sandstone. 

"Why is it doing that?" Zheng Bao asked Feng Min. 

"I do not know how to interpret what I am seeing."

"The book of fortunes would not declare this a good omen," Said Guiying as she took a blade and etched her own words into the rock: "People study to talk reason, but the righteous should cultivate strength to make others talk reason."

Her words too began to bleed. 

Pan Ju began scouting the area as they were meddling with the stone and saw in the distance the rise of Yang Manor, however it was surrounded by a strange and dense forest of bamboo. 

Both Zheng Bao and Guiying started to feel faint. 

The stone continued to bleed.*

They used a pole for leverage and pulled the stone from the mud. The writing on the stone suggested that the words were spoken by Hen-Shi, but Feng Min maintained that it was deeply unorthodox and not widely regarded as true. 

Guiying and Zheng Bao were growing pale and weak. 

Cutting his hand, Zheng Bao drizzled his blood on the stone, and his words vanished. Guiying did the same and her's did as well. 

A long skiff approached and a man hailed them. 

"What are you doing on Lady Yang's land?"

"Who are you sir," Asked Zheng Bao.

"I am Xu Yitai. You are on Lady Yang's land my friend."

"We were just examining this sandstone with a sutra written upon it," Said Zheng Bao. 

"That is no stone, it is just a trunk of dead wood," Said Xu Yitai. "And you don't look well my friend. Please let me take you to Yang Manor so you can be tended to and recuperate."

"We must be on our way," Said Zheng Bao. "But if you don't object may we take this dead tree trunk?"

"I don't care, just don't take good wood from here or dally too long. Stay safe my friends." Xu Yitai moved swiftly away from them. 

Zheng Bao lifted the sandstone and found it surprisingly light. They headed south to leave the swamp and rest. 

An hour later the same skiff from before, and another, this one carrying 7 men, glided into view and blocked their path.**

"Say you friends, you still look unwell, please accept Yang Manor's hospitality and I will guide the way." It was Xu Yitai again. 

He and his men appeared armed. 

"Thank you for the offer," Said Guiying. "But we have important business and must move quickly."

"Please Ma'am," Said Xu Yitai. "Do not force me to be rude with you. I must insist you accept our offer of hospitality."

Pan Ju hurled his meteor hammer, smashing Xu Yitai in the chest and knocking him into the water. 

Zheng Bao then threw the sandstone into the boat with seven men. It landed with a strange explosion, breaking the boat in half and sending the men into the water with Xu Yitai in a large blast. 

The men's bodies floated lifelessly on the surface. 

Xu Yitai leapt back into his skiff. Guiying and Feng Min both struck at him but missed, all three fighting in the boat together. Pan Ju stood at the bow of the skiff and threw a hail of blades at Xu Yitai, eviscerating him. 

Xu Yitai dropped dead. 

They searched the bodies and found only chain whips on the men. But Xu Yitai had a whistle, a medallion with a fish etched into it, and papers with their faces drawn on them. He also had a large number of weapons and a small ballista in the skiff. 

They buried Xu Yitai and his men then went to land and put the sandstone sutra on a mound. Sleeping they hoped to recover from the day. 

That night Zheng Bao dreamt and saw a seated figure in the forest, like a giant silhouette. 

"Who are you?"

"I am the sandstone nun," Said a voice. 

"What do you want with us?"

"One of your companions has relics of Sunan and Bao that do not belong to him," She said. "And you have seek something wicked and nefarious that does not belong to you as well." 

Zheng Bao was cordial and explained that he was originally seeking the Thousand Painful Deaths flower for his Uncle Bone Breaker. But he abandoned that idea after visiting Iron Temple, instead promising to return the Thousand Painful Deaths flower to them in exchange for Raksha statues for his uncle. 

"The iron temple's hands are stained with blood, your uncle's hands are stained with blood, my hands are pure as jade," She said. 

"May I ask what the sandstone sutra is?"

"It is the deepest wisdom of Hen-Shi. Only those who understand it and act upon it can reach the Island of Xan."

"But what if it isn't true?"

"Hen-Shi's words cannot be manipulated or distorted by mortals."

"Why are you doing this to us?"

"I am taking these weapons from you to help you become enlightened before it is too late. This is the compassion of Hen-Shi. If you follow me and take my instructions, you will have a chance to reach Xan. For you that means the only path is to plunge a dagger into your uncle's wicked heart."

"I will do no such thing. I have listened to your words," said Zheng Bao. "I have heard you politely but I will not kill my own uncle or betray my master's teaching."

"You are not a righteous man and my pure jade hands will send you to hell to follow the likes of Dancing Corpse."

"We will defeat you," Said Zheng Bao.

"You will not defeat me," She said. "The compassion of Hen-Shi cannot be defeated."

"You will not defeat me," Zheng Bao repeated to her. "The compassion of Hen-Shi cannot be defeated." 

Awakening in his camp, Zheng Bao recounted what he dreamed to the party and asked what Feng Min thought about it.

"This nun seems ruthless," Said Feng Min. "Having to kill to reach Xan is also a strange idea. I believe she is either lying or deluded, many sutras have been known to be false."

Zheng Bao planned to bury the stone but Guiying suggested throwing it into the sea. They traveled to the coastal shore and he sent it into the water but it never broke the surface.

The stone hovered above the sea and spun. Then a light in the shape of a golden mercy enveloped the stone. It came floating back to them and when they read it the words upon it were changed:

"Hen-Shi's compassion is boundless and mighty as this stone."

*They were effectively loosing 1 point of Hardiness every ten minutes as if they were bleeding to death. 

**They were making survival rolls every hour to avoid encounters. 

HEAVENLY FRAGRANCE CAMPAIGN SESSION 15

This was the fifteenth session of my Heavenly Fragrance Campaign, a living adventure prepared using tools and procedures discussed in the Wuxia Sandbox blog posts. This campaign is intended to play as a sandbox but with more dramatic elements. It is a two player campaign where run in what I call "Condor Heroes Mode", where characters begin with only one Kung Fu technique, their family background established and connected to the setting, and using a level advancement system based on encounters with higher level masters who train them. It also makes use of a campaign Shake-Up table, rolled once each session, to manage an unfolding background situation (see STATE OF THE MARTIAL WORLD). I will include footnotes to explain what procedures were invoked during play. The campaign is set in Fan Xu, largely using the Sons of Lady 87 book. 

CHARACTERS

Bao Long: An orphaned street urchin who was adopted by Lady Eighty-Seven's son, Guan Shisu after he came to the aid of Guan Shisu's daughter, Little Guan Hua. All he knows about his background is that his mother died when he was young. Bao Long has been taught some martial arts by Lady Eighty-Four, Yuhuan. Bao Long is a bit dim-witted but tough. 

Little Guan Hua: The daughter of Guan Shisu and the disciple of Guan Nuan. Little Guan Hua is cowardly and feeble, but intelligent.

Fu Yao: The newest member of the party. Not much is known about his past but he specializes in Qinggong. 

Campaign Note: Due to learning an evil technique, Bao Long's eyes changed, so that his whites became black and his pupils white. And due to the acquisition of another evil technique he has gained the Lust for Divinity Flaw. 

GUAN NUAN'S WARNING 

In River Village the characters waited for Guan Nuan to come for Hell Burning Sword's head.

From their room in the Plum Tree Inn they heard a rapping at their door. Iron Naga Tian gazed at Bao Long when he answered. 

"The 82nd Lady of the Guan Family wishes to have a private conversation."

Bao Long followed Iron Naga Tian to Guan Nuan's inn room. She had set it up like an audience hall and received Bao Long. 

"Greetings Nephew. Where is the body of Hell Burning Sword?"

"It is here for you to take. In our room."

Art by Jackie Musto 

"This will please The 87th Lady of the Guan Family," She said. "I must advise you to avoid this area until your banishment has ended. I suggest you remain on the western side of the canal to be safe."

"Thank you Ma'am," Said Bao Long. He then handed her 1,000 silver taels. 

"What is this?"

"This is a gift for you from us," Said Bao Long.

"Where did you get this sum?"

"Through our business arrangements."

She looked thoughtfully at the taels. "You have done well and I appreciate the gift. I will make a point of looking after your facility in Mai Cun during your absence." 

Later Iron Naga Tian retrieved the body and cut off the head to take with them to Lady 87. The party discussed what next to do, as Dancing Corpse Wan Mei was eager to resume training and build their sect. They agreed to spend time training in Wu Zhen at Little Guan Hua's father's house. Fu Yao asked leave to tend to something important but promised to meet them within a month. 

A BEHEADING IN WU ZHEN 

In Wu Zhen Bao Long and Little Guan Hua continued their training. Nie Ping and Dancing Corpse Wan Mei were given quarters as well. 

Wan Mei instructed Bao Long in her Festering Palm technique. A week or two into their efforts Guan Shisu informed Little Guan Hua that two groups of men had arrived seeking audiences, one of them wished to speak with her, while the other sought Bao Long. She arranged for them to meet the three men seeking Bao Long first. 

"We are the Shan Brothers," said one of the men. "And we have come in hopes of being disciples of the great Bao Long."

Little Guan Hua looked them over, disapproving of their unkempt and dirty appearances. "If my brother accepts you, you will be given some of our bath beans and bathe daily."

The men nodded and said "Yes, we apologize for our crude presentation. And promise to do so if Bao Long accepts us."

Bao Long considered their request and said "Please give me a demonstration of you abilities first."

The first brother, Yan, fired a rapid sequence of arrows that built into a near cloud. These fell upon Bao Long, who resisted them, but hit Little Guan Hua, injuring her. 

"Apologies Ma'am!"

"Because you offered your apology instantly, I will forgive" Said Little Guan Hua. 

The next brother, Ziying, stepped forward, bowed and said "With permission my demonstration must be made up close."

Bao Long nodded and let him approach. The prospective disciple unleashed an aggressive and powerful stab with his dagger, which Bao Long absorbed in his belly, pinning the blade in place."

"Very good," Said Bao Long.

The last brother, Zhen, approached as well and struck Bao Long with a finger upon the elbow, causing a well of nausea to rise in his stomach, followed by a cloudiness in his mind. 

Bao Long nodded and said "We will give you..."

A servant of the household rushed into the audience chamber, a pale look on his face. "Madame Guan Hua," He said. "I think you should come to Nie Ping's chambers right away."

They went to Nie Ping's room and found her body on the floor, the head completely removed and nowhere to be seen. The bronze mirror before her was dented, and blood pooled on the wooden floor.* 

Inspecting the wound, Little Guan Hua saw it was a perfect cut, and not from an ordinary blade. There were also cuts on the insides of her knuckles. She had a stab wound in her back as well. 

Little Guan Hua addressed the servant. "Tell everyone to investigate this immediate and report any strange comings or goings in the house hold. Put everyone on alert."

THE RIGHTEOUS PATH TO LONG MA HALL

Fu Yao stood before King Archer in his reception room at Long Ma Hall. 

"Who are you and why have you come to me?"

"I am Fu Yao, student of Hua Yin, and come hoping to learn from you. You martial arts are highly respected, and you are esteemed in the martial world."

"I will not teach a student who serves a villain like Hua Yin."

"What if I cut ties with my Master?"

"You cut ties with your teacher so easily?" King Archer looked at him sternly. "You do not sound like a hero to me."

"I have heard of your incredible kung fu, and believe if I possessed it, I would be unstoppable, I am willing to do what it takes to gain it, and would leave my master's service if this sets me on the right path."

"Please sir," Said King Archer. "You seem interested in power not what is righteous. You want our martial arts simply to inflict them upon the world." 

"I am willing to walk the righteous path, please I accept your instructions humbly."

"We do not share out kung fu with men bent on power."

"I understand but chief, I am willing to do whatever it takes to learn from you. I have here a manual of Gentle Sage, with his most feared techniques. I will gladly gift it to you if you instruct me along the righteous path."

"I don't seek to learn his kung fu, if you were a hero you would have chucked it in a fire long ago," Said King Archer. 

Without saying a word, Fu Yao tossed the manual into a brazier and let it burn.

"You have set one foot on the path," Said King Archer. "A mere foot, nothing more." 

"Please instruct me."

"A year," Said King Archer. "A year of walking on the path. Be a good man for a year, do the works of justice and protect the weak from the oppressive and hellbent, then I will consider, simply consider, taking you as a disciple." 

Fu Yao thanked King Archer and promised to take his advice. 

He left for The Vermillion Bird Teahouse and got an audience with Hua Yin. 

He spoke with her and made pleasantries but then got to the point. 

"Master, I must ask you a question. I wish to learn Long Ma Hall's techniques, but do to so, they say I cannot associate with you, and so I wanted to know how you feel about this."

"You wish for me to give you leave, to no longer be my student?"

"Yes Master. I believe with Long Ma Hall's martial arts, I would be like a god."

Hua Yin's eyes fumed. "You will remove yourself from my presence immediately."

"I apologize Master, I meant no offense to you."

"You will get out of my sight this instant," She said. "There are no more ties between us. After accepting me as your sole master you repay me with this disloyalty? I suggest you leave quickly before my anger boils over." 

Fu Yao left hastily, as he did so, one of the Vermillion Birds whispered to him "Be wary, she will certainly try to kill you. She will hound you and you won't know any peace."

He raced back to Long Ma Hall and was given another audience. This time King Archer appeared with his daughter and second chief, Yao Shanhu, by his side. 

"Has a year passed so quickly?"

"Forgive me King Archer," said Fu Yao. "I wanted to let you know I have severed tied with Hua Yin and intend to spend the next year cultivating virtue." 

"How did she react?"

"It would seem I am a man on the run, she will surely come after me and try to kill."

King Archer contemplated the situation. "Well I can't ignore your plight after setting you on this path.....If she is coming after you, I suppose I must assist within the bounds of reason."

"I did this to follow the righteous path as you instructed, there is no need for you to reward me, I only hope you will teach me to be a good man."

"Cut the nonsense!" Said King Archer. "I know perfectly well you only severed ties to learn my martial arts. Get to the heart of it: which of my techniques did you have an interest in mastering?"

"In truth King Archer, I had hoped to learn your daughter's Raging Bear Stance, I have heard it is quite impressive."

"You ask a lot," Said King Archer. "But you have also earned a terrifying enemy in Hua Yin. What will you do for me in exchange?"

"Anything you say sir."

"Anything?"

"Yes."

"Very well," Said King Archer. "Three contracts. Three contracts signed and left blank for me to fill, that you promise to complete, no matter the task, when you receive." 

"Umm," Fu Yao hesitated. "I would just add the provision that none of these contracts ever ask me to harm any of my current associates."

"Good," Said King Archer. "I can promise they will never require you harm current associates, but I make no promises concerning future ones."

Fu Yao agreed and was placed under the care of Yao Shanhu to learn from her over the next couple of weeks. When he was done he returned to Wu Zhen and met up with his companions. He arrived just after the murder of Nie Ping. 

LADIES OF THE DAWN 

As the investigation into Nie Ping's death was underway, Little Guan Hua received the three men who petitioned her. They were all dressed like scholars and carried parasols, introducing themselves as Chao, Dong and Lu. 

Little Guan Hua was impressed by their refined greeting and manners. "What is it you seek from me."

"We wish to become your disciples**. We admire your sophistication and worldliness and can think of no better teacher. Though our skills are not high, we have trained on our own and are not without some measure of ability."

"What would you say is your greatest asset?"

"Our minds Madame Guan Hua."

Pleased Little Guan Hua gave them quarters and said she would accept them. She also told them to use their minds to help them improve their products. They began work on a singing tea cup concept. 

As the investigation unfolded, they resumed their training with Dancing Corpse Wan Mei, and Bao Long mastered her Festering Palm technique. However this triggered a change in him and he began having aspirations to become a powerful divinity, like a dragon god made from Obsidian. 

He then commissioned a black smith to make him a jian with a dragon motif and robes in the style of a Yen-Li priest with dragon scales. 

One morning a box arrived addressed to Wan Mei. Little Guan Hua had a servant open it, and inside was Nie Ping's head with a note that said "A gift from the Ladies of the Dawn."

They asked Dancing Corpse Wan Mei what she knew about them.

"They were my old order," Said Dancing Corpse Wan Mei. "I poisoned them for the Dawn Sabre. But I am sure I killed all of them."

"Perhaps one or two escaped," Said Little Guan Hua.

"Perhaps, though my poisoning was quite thorough," she said. 

Fu Yao interjected "Is it possible, that were you to give these people the Dawn Sabre they might let go of this grudge?"

"The Dawn Sabre belongs to me, it was my husband's and I can never relinquish it...besides, it gives me deep insights into the world." 

By this point in the investigation, Little Guan Hua had already deduced the weapon used to kill Nie Ping was a flying guillotine, something known in theory but beyond the ability of anyone to physically engineer. 

"Was there anyone in your order Master," Said Little Guan Hua, "Who fought with a flying guillotine?"

"No, but there was one smart enough to make one, a woman named Shan Miaohui."

The group called for a Ritual Master to help them deal with the problem after learning from the household physician that the Feng Shui in Nie Ping's chamber was strange. 

A ritual master named Don Lian arrived and began performing a strange dance with a peach tree sword the the halls. He interviewed people as well and reported back to Little Guan Hua that evening. 

He said there was phoenix energy radiating from the mirror. The physician also reported that servants had seen strange things in other reflective surfaces like the pond.

"I believe someone is using reflective sources to attack from elsewhere, and anyone capable of this, in my opinion is not human. Perhaps a spirited thing or immortal. I recommend drawing covers over all reflective surfaces, keeping the bath basins empty and destroying what mirrors you have."

"Can we bring any harm to the attacker?" Asked Bao Long. 

"The mirror is one way, but I know a ritual that might enable me to ensnare whoever is attacking with a rope. I imagine they are very powerful though."

The party discussed the matter, and Dancing Corpse Wan Mei expressed concern that she had no clarity on how powerful Shan Miaohui was, were it in fact her. As they discussed a possible way to set up an ambush, Little Guan Hua dropped her tea cup. 

"I can't bathe!" she said. 

People looked at her questioningly. 

"So long as we can't have reflective surfaces, I can't bathe!"

"So, who cares about bathing at the moment?" Said Dancing Corpse 

"I can't be dirty and filthy," Said Little Guan Hua. "We must set this ambush now!"

"But I am not sure how powerful Shan Miaohui is, we don't even know if it is her."

The party discussed it further, finally settling on staging an ambush that night. They placed a mirror int he open courtyard, offered one of the magistrates prisoners clemency if he would stand as bait and waited around the periphery. 

A flying guillotine flew from within the mirror. Bao Long charged in and took control of it with the Unfurling Hand of Bing and landed it back on the attacker through the mirror. He pulled the cord but it came back empty. 

The ritual master cast his rope and tugged. It was too much weight for him to pull so Little Guan Hua and Fu Yao helped him heave the figure through. 

A woman in red robes was lashed to the rope. 

"This is not Shan Miaohui." Said Dancing Corpse Wan Mei. 

"Who are you?" insisted Little Guan Hua.

The woman smiled and seemed unconcerned about the threat posed by the group. "I am Da Ning, a disciple of the dawn."

"Who is your master and what do you want?"

"My master is the Immortal Shan Miaohui and she wants the dawn saber and to bring Dancing Corpse Wan Mei to justice."

An argument broke out between the disciple and the party as they accused her of killing innocent people and having no moral high ground. She claimed Nie Ping was guilty as she was an associate of Dancing Corpse. During the conversation she began insulting Dancing Corpse by calling her Jia Jia the Laughing Freak, her old nickname. 

They said they would take the woman hostage and work out what to do. However Da Ning was utterly unconcerned, her willingness to go along with being their prisoner made them uneasy, as they hadn't yet defeated her.

"Let's do this in a more civilized way," Said Little Guan Hua. "Can you relay messages to your master through the mirror?"

"Yes."

"Send her a message, if you are willing, saying we understand she has a grudge with our master and we are willing to let it be settled in a fight, but request that it take place in two years time."

The woman agreed and sent a message through. Moments later a sealed letter flew out the mirror and Little Guan Hua read it:

Challenge is accepted. In two years, we meet at the base of mount dao. Please return my disciple. 

The disciple departed through the mirror. Her flying guillotine was still in the hands of Bao Long. Little Guan Hua summoned the three men she had taken as disciples. 

"I want to put you towards a better use. Stop work onto tea cup and begin reverse engineering this device." 

*While the players were receiving the prospective disciples, I had them roll on behalf of Nie Ping for this fight without telling them what it was related to (I simply told them to roll different dice pools for me, each of which represented her attacks, counters, speed rolls, Muscle rolls to escape, etc).

**To give some background here and to give some behind the scenes, as the players have formally been working to create a sect and headquarters (the headquarters is an ongoing project not yet launched but planned), I started using some rules I created for sect management. Part of these rules include rolling on a chart every time players level to see if they attract disciples. 

HEAVENLY FRAGRANCE CAMPAIGN SESSION FOURTEEN

This was the fourteenth session of my Heavenly Fragrance Campaign, a living adventure prepared using tools and procedures discussed in the Wuxia Sandbox blog posts. This campaign is intended to play as a sandbox but with more dramatic elements. It is a two player campaign where run in what I call "Condor Heroes Mode", where characters begin with only one Kung Fu technique, their family background established and connected to the setting, and using a level advancement system based on encounters with higher level masters who train them. It also makes use of a campaign Shake-Up table, rolled once each session, to manage an unfolding background situation (see STATE OF THE MARTIAL WORLD). I will include footnotes to explain what procedures were invoked during play. The campaign is set in Fan Xu, largely using the Sons of Lady 87 book. 

CHARACTERS

Bao Long: An orphaned street urchin who was adopted by Lady Eighty-Seven's son, Guan Shisu after he came to the aid of Guan Shisu's daughter, Little Guan Hua. All he knows about his background is that his mother died when he was young. Bao Long has been taught some martial arts by Lady Eighty-Four, Yuhuan. Bao Long is a bit dim-witted but tough. 

Little Guan Hua: The daughter of Guan Shisu and the disciple of Guan Nuan. Little Guan Hua is cowardly and feeble, but intelligent.

Fu Yao: The newest member of the party. Not much is known about his past but he specializes in Qinggong. 

Campaign Note: Due to learning an evil technique, Bao Long's eyes changed, so that his whites became black and his pupils white. 

THE CAVERNS OF THE CRESCENT PHOENIX

Before the party set off to find Crescent Phoenix, Little Guan Hua sent message into Mai Cun summoning her workers from the Heavenly Fragrance Association facility to meet with her outside the city, believing this wouldn't violate Lady 87's command. 

As the men approached them, Fu Yao noticed two of Lady 87's men following behind and readying daggers as they observed. He informed Little Guan Hua who called to the men. 

The men, high ranking 87 Killers, approached. 

"You were warned not to do business inside the city," Said of the men, whose Little Guan Hua recognized as Iron Naga Tian.  "You've sacrificed these men's lives by violating The 87th Lady of the Guan Family's orders." He pointed to Little Guan Hua's workers. 

Little Guan Hua offered to pay money for their lives and a large sum was settled upon. Deciding not to push her luck further, she agreed to set out for Phoenix Moon Cavern. 

When they reached the Phoenix Moon Cavern they were granted an audience with Crescent Phoenix. They explained to her that Long Bao was suffering from a terrible blood disease and didn't have long to live. Then they provided her with the physician's papers they found in the Nun's chambers. 

She examined Long Bao's pulse. 

"I can help stave off the effects temporarily, and I could teach him to master my Phoenix Cultivation so he can do so himself indefinitely. But doing so would radically transform his physical body."

Fu Yao knew something of the Phoenix Cultivation technique and asked "Would this turn him into a woman?"

"Yes," Said Crescent Phoenix. "You may want to seek out Thundering Zither, he is a highly skilled physician and famous for solving difficult cases like this one. The only other suggestion I can make is to seek out the immortals."

She offered them chambers while they thought things over, saying they could stay and consider their options. She would help him stave off the effects during that time. However she had to receive an another guest so dismissed them.

As they left, they saw that the guest was Floating Sea God Zhang Shisan, who Fu Yao had sent word to before leaving. Later he found Shisan, giving him a tribute of 10,000 spades and discussing future plans. He asked Floating Sea God to be his sworn brother, but the offer was declined. He then asked if Floating Sea God could procure venomous centipedes and snakes, then send them to the vermillion Bird Teahouse (he agreed to this and some days later centipedes but no snakes were received at the teahouse).  

During this time, Dancing Corpse Wan Mei was unusually calm, and unusually friendly towards Fu Yao. She offered to teach him the blade of sky technique and also began working on training Little Guan Hua in more advanced martial arts. With Bao Long, noting he still had the seismometer taken from Fan Batu, she addressed him. 

"I have taken note of many of Fan Batu's techniques with that instrument. I believe I can give you instruction to master them if you like."*

They decided to go to Thundering Zither, who lived in the north of the prefecture, in the Yaoguai Forest. Fu Yao said he needed to tend to business but would catch up with them later. 

THE EMERALD GARDEN INN

Fu Yao went to the Emerald Garden Inn and spoke with Zhang Zhen'er the proprietress. He had been informed she was a skilled counter fighter and spoke to her frankly about his desire to learn from her. He explained that he already had a master, and she had said he could train under her care, he also offered whatever services he could in exchange. When he told her his master was Hua Yin, she seemed surprised. 

"Madame Hua Yin, I have heard of her and revere her talents," Said Zhang Zhen'er. "If I show you a technique or two, I would like information in exchange. You will agree to send me messages regularly on my interests in the prefecture. Is this acceptable?"

Fu Yao agreed and she instructed him in Sting of the Scorpion. She gave him further instruction in a technique for maiming. 

THUNDERING ZITHER

On the approach to Thundering Zither's Wan Mei told Little Guan Hua she was greatly impressed with the Phoenix Moon Cavern, and believed they too needed a proper headquarters. 

Little Guan Hua said she had thought the same thing, and would look into the matter. In the meantime, Wan Mei suggested they use Oriole Village as their base. 

She trained them on the journey and Wan Mei, unlike previous occasions, didn't have them attack villagers to hone their precision. She had taken to carrying the Dawn Sabre and It seemed she had mellowed after killing Fan Batu. 

Thundering Zither greeted them and gave hospitality. He had a scholarly disposition, examining Bao Long closely. Little Guan Hua offered assistance which he acceptance and she was surprised by the physician's creative and manic style of care. Over the course of a month they trained in the evening and Bao Long received acupuncture and moxibustion treatments during the day, during which Thundering Zither released a great deal of his blood. After one month, of six hour daily treatments, Bao Long was cured. 

HELL BURNING SWORD 

They then went to River Village re-uniting with Fu Yao along the way and then to the Plum Tree Inn where they confronted Hell Burning Sword. 

Little Guan Hua approached and said "Hell Burning Sword, you have unsettled business with The 87th Lady of the Guan Family. Come outside and face us fairly."

Hell Burning Sword resigned himself and followed. He agreed to face off against Little Guan Hua, Bao Long and Fu Yao.

Hell Burning Sword opened with a technique that risked all against Fu Yao. To get in position for a lethal strike, he made himself vulnerable. He thrust with his butterfly swords but missed. His fate was sealed by this choice. 

Fu Yao's blade sink in like a Scorpion's Tail, and Bao Long punctured every organ in Hell Burning Swords torso with a series of persistent stabs. 

Hell Burning Sword lay dead in the road. They sent word to Guan Nuan to come and retrieve the head to bring to Lady 87. 

They continued their training at the Plum Tree Inn, knowing the murder of Lady 87's enemy would prompt no investigation or justice. 

*In this campaign I am interested in an accelerated progression so I can work more on the profound and immortal levels. Long Bao was Qi rank 8 at this point in the session. Wan Mei has been advancing as well (I am making a point of advancing NPCs, especially focusing on the teachers of the player characters). 

PATHS FROM NOWHERE SESSION FOURTEEN

This is a sandbox campaign for Wandering Heroes of Ogre Gate, operating in "Condor Heroes Mode". I used a lot of the procedures described in the wuxia sandbox posts. It is a campaign with three players. Before the campaign started we spent time establishing their family connections, rolling randomly for both their mothers and fathers (normally only one parent is randomly rolled, but in this case we wanted characters with potentially scandalous backgrounds). These characters each started play with just one Kung Fu Technique. 

CHARACTERS

XIANG GUIYING: The daughter of Jade Fist of Twin Fisted Eagle sect and Pale Fox, a notorious bandit. She is seeking pelts from Pearl Tigers. She is beautiful but wears a disguise to hide this from others. 

ZHENG BAO: Short and burly, he is the son of Zhang San of Bone Breaking Sect and of Reckless Storm. However San is married to Chen and has maintained the presence that Bao is Chen's son. Unfortunately due to crucial background information, Chen knows that Bao cannot be his son so is distant. Zheng Bao's uncle, Bone Breaker, is fond of him. He is seeking the Thousand Painful Deaths Flower to please his uncle. 

PAN JU (MOGHA): The son of the Witch of Zhaoze Zhou and Nergui Mogha, Pan Ju grew up in the Kushen Basin but has returned to the Banyan and Hai'an, where he knows his mother resides.   

ABBESS BING 

The party bid farewell to Jade Maiden sect and traveled to Hen-Shi Temple. There they were greeted by the abbess who brought them inside the temple. The abbess and her nuns kneeled on a dais and motioned for the party do kneel in the area before them. She also beckoned Feng Min to join them on the dais and she did so. 

Zheng Bao and Guiying both made substantial donations, placing a total of 53,422 spades worth of taels on fabric and passing it to the abbess. 

Lady White Blade by Jackie Musto

"This is an enormous donation, are you sure you can afford it?" Asked Abbess Bing. 

Zheng Bao explained that they had no need of it, and wanted to help the temple. 

"This will go towards food, necessary repairs and, given the sum, I will use it to make copies of our teachings to disseminate."

She then spent the next two hours offering them lessons about Hen-Shi and the temples teachings. They were especially focused on compassion and non-killing, and she encouraged them to become vegetarians. She said that every death they caused would weigh against them. 

The party expressed some reluctance on the last point in the teachings, so told them to refrain from eating meat that came from larger animals. 

VILLAGE OF AN 

After they left the temple, the party headed towards mystic sword sect, but on the second day their path was obstructed by an avalanche. Initially they considered blasting the rocks and boulders to clear a path, but when they inspected the nearby forest they saw a village and were concerned it could have unintended consequences. 

Heading to the village they spoke with headman Shan, who gave them hospitality, including a meal of fried fish. It was a farming village that also exported fabrics. When Zheng Bao offered any help to repay them for food and shelter, the headman asked if they would assist the villagers in clearing the avalanche. 

They spent the next three days moving boulders and ensuring nothing endangered the trail or village. Guiying, who knew something of mountains and hills, was able to provide guidance that likely saved several lives. 

When they were finished, Headman Shan gave them fresh clothes as gifts, which they accepted. Guiying put on a show for the villagers, having her monkey, Peach, perform and put on a martial arts demonstration*. 

The villagers were so astounded**, that the headman offered to give them an ancient clay tablet, saying it was an important artifact. 

"This is too valuable an item for me to accept," Said Guiying. So the headman gave them wine instead. 

THE CELESTIAL KILLER 

Making their way to Mystic Sword Temple, they saw a figure on the trail. She stood there still, in purple robes, with an aura of menace. 

"Guiying, Bao and Ju," She said. "There are many demanding your blood."

"You," Shouted Zheng Bao, "Were you sent by Lady Yang to kill us? Who are you?" 

"I cannot disclose the details of my contract, but I have been hired to kill you. My name is Fa Si. I have been forthright, you can see this is no ambush, no deceptive tactics, I ask for a straight forward fight."

"This seems true," Said Zheng Bao. "Would you like us to go first, or would you prefer to go first?"

"Are you offering me the first strike?"

"I suppose I am."

"Very well," She said. "Approach me and allow me to have my first strike."

The party walked over to her and once they were within arms reach, she punched the ground and it opened up, as if suddenly a sink hole. Zheng Bao and Feng Min fell inside and were injured. But Pan Ju and Guiying leapt away from the disaster. 

Zheng Bao crawled from the hole she created and stabbed her with his spear, causing her to spit blood all over him and laugh. 

Her face was not pleasing up close and she had a rigid grin that never wavered. 

"Who's next?" she yelled.

Pan Ju then threw a hail of daggers towards her, but she resisted them with her Iron Body defense. 

Guiying then leapt at her with her Slicing Blade of the Flying Phantoms, which shed blood but also made Fa Si shed more tears of laughter. 

It was then Feng Min's turn, who brought both fists against either side of Fa Si's head in her Twin Moon Strike. 

Fa Si fell to the ground unconscious. 

"Do you want to kill her?" Asked Feng Min. 

"No," said Guiying. "We can get information out of her. 

"We should give her a chance to go peacefully," Said Zheng Bao. 

Pan Ju felt Fa Si's pulse and recognized she was not in good health. She also looked diseased. Searching her they found money, sketches of the party, Zhaoze Sect's letter to the Jianghu and a large quantity of Celestial Plum one a wooden box. 

Having a more full understanding of her condition, Pan Ju administered some hot herbal drinks as she awakened under their care. 

"We have healed you," Said Zheng Bao. "If we let you go will you end this contract against us?"

"I do not cancel my contracts. Only if the issuer were to die or rescind the contract would I do so. I can promise not to pursue you for another two weeks seeing as you healed me."

The party talked among themselves, then Zheng Bao said. "Two weeks and you will answer questions about Lady Yang."

"I can answer four questions."

"Where can we find Lady Yang?" Asked Guiying. 

"Lady Yang lives in Yang Manor in the Whispering Swamp near Screeching Lake. It is heavily guarded and she travels with a retinue. She is never alone."

"Who is Lady Yang?"

"Her original surname is not Yang. She is a powerful woman in control of a vast network of rice brokers and ship builders. Her wealth and influence were so great the Queen Feared her and bestowed her land in the Screeching Swamp as a 'gift'. This was meant as a punishment but She was able to cultivate the land and increase her prestige by marrying Yang Ren

Zheng Bao asked "What is the greatest tragedy in your life?"

"I was orphaned at a young age. But that was not about Lady Yang so you may ask me two more questions."

"What kind of kung fu does Lady Yang practice?" asked Guiying. 

"She has an unusual style and it led to a deviation that makes her body overheat so she must draw on other peoples phoenix energy to regulate her temperature. However this process is lethal to those she leaches energy from. She does not seek a cure as this is a powerful foundation of her martial abilities. She prefers the company of women and it is rumored she takes a women every night to drain in her bed chambers. 

"We saw a wedding dress that was intended for her from her father, was this for a new husband?" Asked Zheng Bao.

"She killed Yang Ren many years ago, very soon after their marriage. It was simply a matter of securing the name Yang. I do not know why you found the wedding dress, perhaps it was never gifted or she returned it." 

The party offered to help Fa Si with her celestial plume addiction but she told them that at her level of cultivation the substance did not control her, rather she controlled it and used its powers to her advantage. 

After learning that Zheng Bao was Bone Breaker's nephew, she said that she would make a point of paying her respects to him before their next meeting. She departed and the party continued to Mystic Sword Temple. 

TEMPLE OF THE MYSTIC SWORD 

At the temple Pan Ju made the appropriate greeting and they were led into a reception hall to speak with Lady White Blade. 

"Greetings to the disciple of Jade Swallow," She said. "I am pleased to offer you protection and hospitality."

"Thank you for the assistance against our enemies Lady White Blade, we are most appreciative of your help." Said Zheng Bao. 

"Please send my greetings to you Master."

"Do you know anything about my Master's present whereabouts?" Asked Zheng Bao. 

"Last I was told, Lady Yang grew tired of sending assassins after her, and went after her on her own to face her one on one in Dee. Your Master is truly great for she gained the upper hand and sliced off one of Lady Yang's fingers, but the coward fled before Jade Swallow could bring her to an end."

Lady White Blade told them that she would keep Zhaoze Sect at bay while the party went to help Jade Swallow and hopefully content with Lady Yang. She told them that she would not have enough men to deal with Lady Yang's assassins though. 

Guiying offered her thanks as well and requested some instruction if Lady White Blade didn't mind. She told her that her sword play was still quite basic and she felt unsure about some of the fundamentals. 

"Since you are going to help Zheng Bao face Lady Yang, I will certainly teach you what I know. Demonstrate you abilities for me."

Guiying showed off all her techniques including Slicing Blade of the Flying Phantoms. 

"Who taught you this technique?"

"I learned it from someone on the road, I don't recall who it was."

"This is one of mine. I will give you more from my repertoire. Everyone clear the room and led me instruct Guiying Alone!"

Lady White Blade then spent the next several hours teaching Guiying her Bursting Charge and Grudge Bearing Sword Strike techniques. 

*Peach increased from Qi rank 1 to 2 this session.

**Guiying got a 10 on her Monkey Handling roll  

HEAVENLY FRAGRANCE CAMPAIGN SESSIONS TWELVE AND THIRTEEN

These are the 12th and 13th sessions of my Heavenly Fragrance Campaign, a living adventure prepared using tools and procedures discussed in the Wuxia Sandbox blog posts. This campaign is intended to play as a sandbox but with more dramatic elements. It is a two player campaign where run in what I call "Condor Heroes Mode", where characters begin with only one Kung Fu technique, their family background established and connected to the setting, and using a level advancement system based on encounters with higher level masters who train them. It also makes use of a campaign Shake-Up table, rolled once each session, to manage an unfolding background situation (see STATE OF THE MARTIAL WORLD). I will include footnotes to explain what procedures were invoked during play. The campaign is set in Fan Xu, largely using the Sons of Lady 87 book. 

CHARACTERS

Bao Long: An orphaned street urchin who was adopted by Lady Eighty-Seven's son, Guan Shisu after he came to the aid of Guan Shisu's daughter, Little Guan Hua. All he knows about his background is that his mother died when he was young. Bao Long has been taught some martial arts by Lady Eighty-Four, Yuhuan. Bao Long is a bit dim-witted but tough. 

Little Guan Hua: The daughter of Guan Shisu and the disciple of Guan Nuan. Little Guan Hua is cowardly and feeble, but intelligent.

Fu Yao: The newest member of the party. Not much is known about his past but he specializes in Qinggong. 

BLOOD IN THE TEMPLE

The party leapt into the garden where Gentle Sage was enjoying the fragrant air. Taken completely by surprise, brutally cut and then his heart impaled by Bao Long's Blade of the Dancing Fox. 

Art by Jackie Musto 

Searching his body they found a manual containing his Tai-Yang Finger and Greater Toe Strike techniques*. In addition they found a jade talisman with a palace carved into it around his neck and a gourd filled with bolus pills**. They hid the body in the pond, weighing it down with stones, then crept through the door to the next hall. 

They saw a Yao Guard but surprised him. Little Guan Hua blinded him with her fly whisk then hit him with her Endless Cloud technique. A battle ensued and it was ended when Bao long impaled the Yao on his sword. 

Looking around they found some monks huddled in a hall, and convinced one of them to show the party where Gentle Sage kept his belongings. They found a jade basin and bath beads, as well as a display of skulls with the names of heroes beneath them. In Gentle Sage's bedchamber they discovered vials of poison. 

They promised to take the monk with them away from the temple and he led them down to the treasury. He explained that the jade talisman could disarm a trap in the room if thrown up to the ceiling, which they did. Entering the treasury freely they found a vast sum of silver taels. 

Taking the bath basin they left the temple then had the monk make a copy of Gentle Sage's manual so Fu Yao could take it with him as he had business elsewhere. Bao Long kept the original Manual and went with Little Guan Hua to Tung-On to train. 

FU YAO AND BAO LONG TRAIN***

Fu Yao traveled tot he Vermillion Bird Teahouse. There he met with Hua Yin and asked her to train him. She explained that not all of her repertoire was suited to his style but that she could help him track down manuals and select other masters to teach him individual techniques if he would take no other teachers and agree to her terms. Among her terms, she told him that should he go to River Village with his companions and happen upon men selling Celestial Plume, he should work to keep them from being interfered with. 

Fu Yao agreed and began learning from Hua Yin. She taught him Flight of the Bat and he also learned Tai Yang Finger from the manual they stole from Gentle Sage. In addition he perfected a new technique with his staff he had been working on. Before he left she gave him a trained pigeon to use if he needed to send her a message. She also suggested that he needed more training before confronting Fan Batu. 

Bao Long presented a tribute to Iron God Meng, who provided him with more snakes (his snakes had been killed by the Sandstone Nun's Thundering Palm) and taught him Belly of the Iron God. He also instructed him in the Thousand Pound Finger Technique. 

Little Guan Hua trained as well, mastering the techniques in Gentle Sage's Manual and working to improve her overall abilities. 

Bao Long learned from Iron God Meng that Fan Batu was staying at the Swallow's Nest Inn in Gao Cun and had several men there with him. 

Bao Long went to Dancing Corpse Wan Mei and informed her about Fan Batu's location. There he found her using local villagers tied to posts for target practice. She was greatly pleased and happy to learn that Bao Long had destroyed the Sandstone Nun. She told Bao Long that she wanted to bring his kung fu to the next level, that she wanted him to be her exclusive disciple. 

However Bao Long was reluctant to betray Iron God Meng. She told him that if Iron God Meng agreed to be her disciple as well, then he could continue learning from both of them. 

Before heading to Tung-On, Bao Long expressed concern about Wan Mei's ruthlessness with the villagers saying they were innocent. 

"There are no innocent people in this world," She said. "Everyone deserves death!"

"Do you then also deserve death Master?"

"As long as my foe is worthy, then they can defeat me for the crimes I have committed," She paused. "But that should not be you! Betraying your own master in this way, that is the most heinous deed a person can commit."

Persuaded by Wan Mei's reasoning, Bao Long embraced her philosophy and went to Iron God Meng to present her proposal. 

"I will need time to decide," Said Iron God Meng. "But you may train under her freely, you have been a good student and I am happy to let you go if you can take your martial arts to greater heights under her instruction." 

Later in the evening Wan Mei took Bao Long to a small village to practice Five Ghost Fingers. He killed 8 villagers and accepted her as his sole teacher. 

She welcome him saying they were now part of a single sect. She then told her more about her martial arts philosophy, explaining that instilling fear was crucial, as terrified opponents were easier to defeat and less likely to confront you. She then began instructing him in the Breath of Death. 

After he returned, Fu Yao explained to the others, including Wan Mei, that Hua Yin felt they were not ready to take on Fan Batu. Everyone agreed to go to the Vermillion Bird Teahouse to discuss the matter. 

DEATH AT SWALLOW'S NEST INN 

The Party went to the Vermillion Bird Teahouse, where Hua Yin expressed her reservations. Wan Mei objected saying that Fan Batu would also be improving his Kung Fu and would simply get more powerful the longer they delayed. It was decided they would take a few weeks to train before confronting him but that they wouldn't delay any longer than that. 

Passing through Tung-On on the way, Bao Long went to receive Iron God Meng's Answer, which was he would not take Wan Mei as his master. However he agreed to help them deal with Fan Batu for 100,000 spades. 

When they reached Gao Cun, they learned that Ravenous Nun Xue Xuanji was staying at the inn too. While she had a reputation for despising all criminals, they thought it might be possible to form an alliance with her to deal with Fan Batu. 

They scoped out the inn and spoke with her. There they saw Fan Batu with his men, enjoying wine and song. The Nun agreed to speak in private away from the Inn. 

When she learned that the party was connected with Lady 87, she said she would agree to help them fight Fan Batu but wanted to duel each of them to the death individually after the battle. 

The party decided to stage an ambush. 

Wan Mei and Bao Long went inside, while Iron God Meng stood ready at the door and the rest of the party were spread out in anticipation. 

Seeing Fan Batu, Wan Mei did not notice that his men were her adopted children, but grown, and this possibility did not occur to Bao Long either. Bao Long was still learning Breath of Death and proved incapable of using the technique, but Wan Mei breathed a heavy and deadly cloud into the room, killing many, innocent patrons and Fan Batu's men both and forcing everyone to flee through the front door. 

The ambush worked. Some of Fan Batu's men survived to fight in the streets, but not long, and Fan Batu was overwhelmed by the party's size and skill. He managed to unleash a terrible attack with a massive seismometer he carried, injuring some of the party, but in the end, they had him surprised and surrounded. 

"Don't kill them!" Shouted Wan Mei. 

Her disciples merely knocked out his remaining men and Fan Batu himself. 

When the fight was done, Wan Mei took the Dawn Sabre of the Yao Yun Sea from Fan Batu's belt and cut off his head. Bao Long took the seismometer. 

Weeping, Wan Mei instructed Bao Long to dig graves for the 8 men killed in the fight. "As for the rest of his men," she said. "These traitors can live."

She then etched a tablet for each of the men. 

Before the bodies were finished Ravenous Nun demanded her duel. Bao Long agreed if he could be the first. 

Fu Yao tried to reason with the Sandstone Nun, saying it wasn't worth it. But she was adamant and said she didn't fear death. 

Bao Long and Ravenous Nun squared off. She managed to slash him with the blades on her shoes, but he quickly responded with a fatal impalement. 

He was covered in blood. 

They dug another grave and buried the bodies. 

Wan Mei seemed upset and said she would need a couple of weeks before she could resume their training. She left to go off on her own saying she would join them shortly. 

The rest of the group began to travel but a couple of days out, Bao Long started feeling unwell. So they returned to the town and sent a message to Wan Mei. 

Believing he had been poisoned, Bao Long and the rest of the party searched the inn for an antidote. The proprietor led them inspect Fan Batu's room and the nun's. In the Nun's chambers they found a stack of papers from a physician and some pills. They learned she was being treated for a unique illness. The papers mentioned taking the pills regularly to stave off the effects, so Bao Long swallowed one. However the papers also mentioned that no cure could be found. 

Little Guan Hua suggested they seek out Physician Zi in Mai Cun. Because she was banished from Lady 87's territory, she would have to remain outside the city but could give them instructions on how to find him. 

Wan Mei arrived before they left and said she wanted to take him to Mount Dao and see if the immortals there would help heal him. However she feared it may not go well as the immortals were quite righteous. 

They decided to head to Mai Cun first. There they consulted with Physician Zi. He said he saw such an ailment among the Zhun and provided Bao Long with more of the red pills they found at the nun's. He also told them it was highly contagious through the blood that he would break out in pustules within a month, perhaps be dead soon after. While there was no known cure, he advised seeking a powerful Neigong Master as that was likely the only hope Bao Long had of survival. 

When they gathered together outside Mai Cun, Little Guan Hua said the most powerful Neigong specialist she knew about was Crescent Phoenix. Wan Mei said she knew how to find her so the group set off. 

*I rolled randomly to determine if he had such a manual

**Through a Medicine Roll they learned that the pills were antidotes to Gentle Sage's poison. They also learned, through an Alchemy roll that the talisman had magnetic properties 

***Note that these training periods are usually happening over weeks or months. In this campaign I am using downtime regularly so the party can train.