THE DRAGONS AND A BEGGAR

I am going to be posting small tools, encounters, adventures and events from my Wandering Heroes of Ogre Gate campaign. The purpose is two-fold. First people can use these in their own games. Second based on feedback I receive, I will likely choose one of them to flesh out into a module. These should be playable in their present form. I will simply expand on the one people take the most interest in. 

The first entry is small series of linked encounters. 

THREE ENCOUNTERS ON THE WAY TO CHEN

You can drop this as an encounter while the party is travelling from one location to another. It is designed with a specific destination in mind but can easily be altered to fit a range of situations. I used it in my own campaign as the players were heading back to Purple Cavern sect to report to their sifu. I call these robust encounters because they are not just challenges or combats. If the players dig beneath the surface it can lead to a memorable scenario.

For every encounter here, the party should be allowed to make a Survival Wilderness Roll (TN 7). Have the PC with the most skill ranks make the roll. If they succeed, they are aware of the encounters before they happen and can take steps to avoid them (for instance, a success simply means they see Golden Snake and Onyx Saber first, and have an opportunity to step to the side of the road if they wish).

1. ENCOUNTER WITH GOLDEN SNAKE AND ONYX SABER

As they players approach Chen they pass people on occasion, mostly local merchants or farmers. However they also encounter Golden Snake and Onyx Saber who are returning to the Chang Family Homestead after attacking Headmaster Mu’s caravan. They made the attack with their Sifu, Master Emerald, who instructed them to stay behind and interrogate the students for information. They learned nothing but enjoyed inflicting harm on the weak.

Golden Snake and Onyx Saber are aggressive and impulsive. They appear arrogant and self-satisfied, but pay little attention to the PCs as they pass. However if the PCs belong to an enemy sect (Purple Cavern Sect or Southern River Sect) and this is clear from their dress, they begin mock them as they pass and try to instigate a fight. They won’t make the first attack but they will say what they can to evoke a strong reaction. Also, if the players appear impoverished or weak, they may try to bully them as well.

GOLDEN SNAKE AND ONYX SABER

Golden Snake and Onyx Saber are two members of Golden Dragon Sect, who have trained together from a young age. Their styles of attack and skills are similar. It is unlikely the players know what the two were up to but should they press for information, Onyx Saber and Golden Snake will only talk if threatened with death. Under this condition they reveal that Master Emerald took Headmaster Mu the Chang Homestead and wants the Merciless Willow Manual.

Defenses

Hardiness 4, Evade 4, Parry 6, Stealth 3, Wits 6, Resolve 7 (Onyx Saber) or 5 (Golden Snake)

Key Skills

Grapple: 1d10, Arm Strike: 1d10, Throw: 1d10, Kick: 1d10, Light Melee: 1d10, Medium Melee: 2d10 or 1d10 (Ox Tail Dao), Heavy Melee: 2d10, Athletics: 1d10, Speed: 1d10, Muscle: 2d10, Endurance: 2d10, Medicine: 1d10, Meditation: 3d10, Detect: 3d10, Deception: 3d10, Persuade: 2d10, Languages (Li Fai): 2d10, Languages (Daoyun):3d10, Languages (Hai’anese): 3d10, Read Script (Feishu): 3d10, Knowledge (Era of the Demon Emperor): 1d10, Knowledge (Era of the Righteous Emperor): 1d10, Institutions (Sects): 1d10

Qi: 1

Wounds: 3

Weapons: Ox Tail(4d10 damage)

Kung Fu Techniques (Waijia 1, Neigong 1, Qinggong 1,  Dianxue 1)

Fierce Strike: This can be used with any melee weapon. On a Success add +1d10 to the damage roll. On a Total Success you add +2d10 to the Damage roll and can exceed the standard dice cap. Catharsis: This can be used with the above effects against one additional target.

Lashing Dragon: Roll Athletics against Evade (must contort body to perform). Multiple streams of Qi energy hit 1 target in 50 feet for 1d10 damage. Cathartic: Strikes up to 2 targets for 3d10 Damage.

Spinning Back Kick (counter): Does 2d10 damage plus 1 Extra Wound. Cathartic: Can be used instantly to interrupt a charge or kick. If used as counter, does 2d10 plus 2 Extra Wounds, and sends the target flying back 5 feet.

2. ENCOUNTER WITH BEGGING DOG

Begging Dog walks on the road to Chen with a bowl asking for food or coin.  He is clearly blind. If the players offer him coin, he promises to repay when he is on his feet. This means he decides to follow and protect them for the next two days as repayment. However, he only steps in if they are in serious trouble and about to be killed or worse. Also, the next time their paths cross, he will be favorably disposed to the party.

Begging Dog is heading to the the city of Chen after a long time away from the martial world to participate in an important Nature Loving Monk Sect meeting. Their current leader, Abbot Huan Dai, is stepping down, and Begging Dog is a likely replacement.

BEGGING DOG

Begging Dog is a member of the Nature Loving Monk Sect, though he has been absent from the group’s affairs for sometime. His eyes were cut out by Lady White Blade ten years ago. After being blinded he went into seclusion and trained on his own, ultimately arriving at the insight that the perfect realm resides in a wine cup. Thus he always carries a gourd of wine. He is looking for students with talents he can modl. He wants to head Nature Loving Monk Sect temporarily, because he lacks the ability to learn some of the sect’s key techniques himself. Therefore he needs someone who he can trust to replace him in a few years.

Defenses: Hardiness 9, Evade 2, Parry 2, Stealth 9, Wits 6, Resolve 6

Key Skills: Grapple: 1d10, Throw: 3d10, Arm Strike: 1d10, Leg Strike: 2d10, Light Melee: 2d10 or 3d10 (stick), Medium Melee: 2d10, Heavy Melee: 0d10, Small Ranged: 0d10, Deception: 3d10, Speed: 2d10, Muscle: 2d10, Detect: 1d10, Medicine: 1d10

Qi: 4

Wounds: 9

Weapon: Stick (2d10)

Flaws: Blind (-1d10/-1 to Parry, Evade, Physical Skills and Detect)

Combat Technique: Blind Swordsman

Techniques ( Qingong 1, Neigong 3)

Eagle Descends Loudly, Great Stride, Blind Strike, Flaming Dragon, Cloud of Inebriation, Flood of Wine

3. ENCOUNTER THE DECIMATED CARAVAN

On the way to their destination the party sees a splintered wagon and a bunch of dead Golden Grotto Students (from the City of Chen). There is one survivor named Ming, and he tells them they were attacked yesterday while traveling (possibly to the Emerald Inn). He think their Headmaster, Mu, has been taken or killed. The attackers were dressed like golden dragon sect members and headed south.

If the players inspect the wagon they see signs of fire or hot energy and many of the students have burns as well. This is from Master Emerald’s Flaming Dragon Technique. Many also have fresh sword wounds on their throats (Medicine TN 7 to determine the weapon was an Ox Tail Dao).

Ming’s wounds are different, he was struck hard in the chest with a Hard Whip. Ming requires healing or he will die in 3 rounds. A successful Medicine Roll TN 6 can also prevent him from dying. Should he be healed and recover, he will be able to tell them about the Merciless Willow Manual. If they ask about Golden Snake and Onyx Saber, he says they remained behind while their master took Mu south and tried to interrogate his brothers before killing them.

If the players head south in the direction that Ming suggests, they come to the Chang Family homestead.

THE HOMESTEAD

This is the village of the Chang family. There are five households here and they are all led by Chang Lung. Lung is an elderly man in his 80s, who is affiliated with Golden Dragon and has given Master Emerald his daughter’s house for the week.

The homes are all made of stone and wood, with small plots of land. The villagers are all kind but guarded. They do their best to encourage the Player Characters to pass through quickly.

Master Emerald is here, with Headmaster Mu and (possibly) his two disciples if they made it back uninterrupted. . He is beating Headmaster Mu until he tells him the location of the Merciless Sunflower Manual (Mu has it concealed in a cave outside Chen).

THE GOLDEN DRAGONS

The Golden Dragons are in the area looking for the Merciless Willow Manual. There is a group of them led by Master Emerald staying at a small homestead/village on the outskirts of Chen. Master Emerald is here on behalf of Bronze Master. Bronze Master has decided to increase his martial arts by obtaining the Merciless Willow Manual and castrating himself.

They’ve kidnapped Headmaster Mu and brought him to the village in order to learn the whereabouts of the manual.

GOLDEN SNAKE AND ONYX SABER

See stats in above encounter for details.

MASTER EMERALD

Master Emerald dresses in long gold robes and a golden hat. He wears a thin brown beard that appears dyed. His features are angular and somewhat handsome. Calm and refined, Master Emerald’s demeanor conceals a deep sadness over the loss of his true love (Lady Plum Blossom). Though he may seem skilled to a beginner, Master Emerald has not put the great effort that many of his peers have into training.

Thirty years ago, Master Emerald was nearly kicked out of Golden Dragon Sect for having an affair with Lady Sapphire (now Lady Plum Blossom). The two were discovered and Bronze Master accused Lady Sapphire of using sorcery to seduce Master Emerald. This could have resulted in her execution, but Master Emerald saved her by privately vowing to atone and remain in the sect, while she was ejected. Though he still loves Lady Sapphire, and knows she has reached misunderstandings regarding his intentions, Master Emerald has never contacted her out of fear it would reignite the wrath of the Golden Dragons. Part of him feels like this is an act of cowardice and perhaps it is. Since these event his enthusiasm for training has diminished.  

Defenses

Hardiness 7, Evade 4, Parry 7, Stealth 6, Wits 7, Resolve 7

Key Skills

Grapple: 2d10, Arm Strike: 2d10, Throw: 2d10, Kick: 3d10, Light Melee: 2d10, Medium Melee: 2d10 , Heavy Melee: 3d10 or 2d10 (Bian) , Speed: 1d10, Muscle: 2d10, Endurance: 2d10, Medicine: 1d10, Meditation: 3d10, Detect: 3d10, Deception: 3d10, Persuade: 2d10, Languages (Li Fai): 2d10, Languages (Daoyun):3d10, Languages (Hai’anese): 3d10, Read, Script (Feishu): 3d10, Knowledge (Era of the Demon Emperor): 3d10, Knowledge (Era of the, Righteous Emperor): 3d10, Institutions (Sects): 3d10, Creatures (Demons) 2d10, Creatures (Spirits): 1d10

Qi: 4

Max Wounds: 9

Weapons: Bian (4d10 damage)

Reputation: Righteous-Hypocritical

Key Kung Fu Techniques (Waijia 1, Neigong 1, Qinggong 1,  Dianxue 1): Crack of the Hard Whip, Flaming Dragon, Spear of the Infinite Emperor, Lashing Dragon, Rising Dragon Stance, Blast of the Dragon, Palm of the Dragon, Flaming Dragon, Inverted Three-Point Strike, Drift of the Butterfly Fish, Spear Swipe, Calm of Sunan, Whirling Dodge (counter), Spinning Back Kick (counter)

Crack of the Hard Whip: On a success 1 point of Hardiness for 1 round per rank of Waijia. On Total Success stunned two rounds. Cathartic: Drains 1 point of Hardiness for 1 day per rank (and 1 week per rank on Total Success).

Flaming Dragon (Athletics against Evade): Archs of flame, up to eight targets. On success does 1d10 damage. Cathartic: Damage increases to 3d10 fire damage.

Spinning Back Kick: Does 2d10 damage plus 1 Extra Wound. Cathartic: Can be used instantly to interrupt a charge or kick. If used as counter, does 2d10 plus 2 Extra Wounds, and sends the target flying back 5 feet.

HEADMANSTER MU

Headmaster Mu is a eunuch and scholar, as well as the present headmaster of Golden Grotto Academy. He castrated himself when Lady Tao promised him the Merciless Willow Manual, only to learn she had deceived him. He fled to Chen and has been plotting his revenge ever since, learning a variety of Yen-Li magics to aid him. He recently acquired the Merciless Willow Manual and is hoping to master its techniques. Presently it is hidden in a cave outside Chen. 

Defenses

Hardiness 3, Evade 3, Parry 6, Stealth 6, Wits 9, Resolve 6

Key Skills

Grapple: 1d10, Throw: 1d10, Arm Strike: 2d10, Leg Strike: 1d10, Light Melee: 2d10, Medium Melee: 1d10 (3d10 with Jian), Heavy Melee: 1d10, Small Ranged: 0d10, Speed: 2d10, Muscle: 1d10, Athletics: 1d10, Meditation: 3d10, Talent (Tattooing): 2d10, Ritual (Western Heavens): 3d10, Ritual (Petition to the Five Ghosts): 2d10, Ritual (The Tattoo of the Demon King): 3d10, History (Era of the Demon Era): 3d10, History (Era of The Five Kingdoms): 3d10, History (Era of the Dutiful State): 2d10, History (Era of 100 Pieces): 3d10, Religion (Dehua): 3d10, Religion (Yen-Li): 3d10, Classics (All): 3d10

Qi: 3

Max Wounds: 7

Weapon: Jian (2d10 damage, +2d10 to attack)

Reputation: Righteous-Vengeful

Key Kung Fu Techniques (Waijia 1, Qinggong 1, Dianxue 1 and Neigong 1): Sword Stance, Drift of the Butterfly Fish, Calm of Sunan, Three-Point Strike, Inverted Three-Point Strike