Player Characters:
Shen Chun/Crazed Raksha
Little Bai
Red Crane
Ong Lao
Min (Feiyan)
Disciples of the Sect:
Red Eagle (Little Bai)
Mount Dao/Biggest Sister (Little Bai)
Filial Cricket (Little Bai)
Dim-Witted Chen (Shen Chun)
Sects:
The Righteous Outlaws
Calamity Star
Ou Jinghzhu
Tea Master Houzhou
Stone Palace Sect (Also called Golden Way)
A gambling hall and criminal network in Yun Hu. Currently under control of party, with Weeping Lotus managing it. They've absorbed many other sects into this organization including Crocodile Sect, Blades of the Weeping Lotus, Temple of the Jade Mercies, Relentless Corpse Sect and more. Recently they joined with Relentless Corpse again when Shen Chun arranged a marriage with their leader Da Mei Mei.
Members:
Shen Chun (King)
Da Mei Mei (Queen)
Weeping Lotus (Right Vanguard)
Silent Dagger
Feng (Accountant)
Gu (Head Chef)
Little Bai
Min
Scholar Shen (a scholar who has been writing a story about Little Bai's life)
Dancing Scorpions
Criminal network in Yun Hu
Relentless Corpse Sect
Da Mei Mei
Temple of the Jade Mercies (see Stone Palace)
Abbot Wei Zhao
Abbess Bao-Yu
Yao Tu-On
Yao Chun
Yao Ba
Southern Hill Sect
Yellow Mantis
White Chysanthemum
Green Mantis (Dead but important)
Twin-Fisted Eagle Sect
Twin Fisted Eagle
Jade Fist
Bone Breaking Sect
Destroyed and taken over by Drunken Hero Kang
Glorious Death Cult
Led by Supreme Master Tung, who says he is a god of death
Art by Jackie Musto |
Red Crane said he felt his skills would be of little use against the House of Paper Shadows in a direct assault and asked if he might instead go to the Banyan to aid in other ways. Shen Chun agreed with this and dismissed him.
As he spoke with Red Crane one of his disciples handed him a letter from Chief Wan Li of Zun City, which read:
You and your wife and not welcome in Zun City from this day forward. Your behavior at the banquet the other day was disgraceful and rumors have reached me that you killed not one but multiple innocent people. And before you do something like try to burn me alive, as you did those poor villagers in Cha, know that I have sent formal denunciations of you to all the leaders of the martial world.
Shen Chun understood this to be the work of his impersonators. He examined a map and took note of where they had been seen, concluding that this must be the work of multiple impersonators or two impersonators capable of instant travel between places*.
He spoke with his inner circle of people and discussed possible approaches to the House of Paper Shadows. Lady Plum Blossom suggested gathering all the sects, addressing the matter and then using that as an opportunity to make an official statement regarding the impersonators. Shen Chun agreed and sent out word for the sects to join at his headquarters. They also discussed the possibility of poisoning the food supply at the House of Paper Shadows.
Meanwhile, Red Crane went to Zun city and got an audience with Chief Wan Li. Appearing before the chief he asked permission to organize a tournament in the city to help the martial world find talent to face the Yan. Chief Wan Li seemed displeased with Red Crane's initial suggestions but told him that he would give him funding to organize such a tournament if he could beat the captain of his Black Dragons in a match. Red Crane agreed.
Stepping forward with a spear, the captain of the Black Dragons got into a stance. Red Crane stood in his two spear stance. The captain threw his spear and rushed forward to deliver a kick as the spear struck. Red Crane threw his spear as well, and it took flight on its own, attacking the captain continuously while he fought. Red Crane's first attempt to engage in melee was thwarted by the captain, who pulled him into a devastating knee strike. However, Red Crane eventually got the upper hand and by the end of the match, the captain was unconscious on the floor of the audience chamber.
Chief Wan Li nodded "Very well, I will give you 5,000 spades to host a tournament on the first day of the Phoenix Moon (in 26 days)"
Red Crane bowed and said "Thank you chief, but is there any way you can see to increase my funding so the tournament can attract the best possible talent?"
The chief looked annoyed and asked Red Crane to step closer to him. He then whispered a request in his ear.
"Oh I could never do that sir. Please is there anything else you would request."
"Very well, go to Sun Mai Temple, take the head of the Abbot and bring it to me. But make the killing appear like Qiang of Rong Yao is responsible and I will give you 20,000 spades for this tournament."
Red Crane nodded and began investigating the matter. He dressed like one of General Qiang's men and went to the temple to burn joss sticks. He then waited for monks to come to the chamber and said as he burned the sticks "Bring me the abbot, for I wish to duel him fairly."
The monks departed and the Abbot arrived.
"You have angered the people of Rong Yao, and I am here as their champion."
The Abbot said "You are mistaken, I have done no such thing."
Red Crane Said "I am not mistaken, now face me."
The Abbot became angry and threw his spade to the ground, getting in an open-handed stance. "Very well, if you insist on being rude we will trade blows."
The Abbot was evasive and light but proved an easy foe for him to dismantle. Before the fight was even over the Abbot dropped to his knees and said "You truly are a great martial hero. I apologize if I have offended the people of Rong Yong, please tell them I acknowledge their grievances."
Red Crane pointed his spear at the Abbot's throat. "Retire from the martial world and assume a new identity elsewhere, then I will let you live."
The abbot assented, dropped his saffron robes and left the temple as stunned monks looked on. Red Crane nodded to them and went to speak with Chief Wan Li.
Back at the Golden Way Sect Headquarters leaders of the Marital World arrived. These included Green Beggar, the masters of Perfect Heaven Lineage Sect, Laughing Fox, members of the alliance, and Iron Clawed Lion King. At the gathering Iron Clawed Lion King spoke, saying he had heard there was a weapon capable of killing the leader of the House of Paper Shadows. Shen Chun said there was such a weapon and it was called the Blood Dagger of Bao. Iron Clawed Lion King suggested they find this weapon before attacking the House of Paper Shadows.
Iron Clawed Lion King also said he was also concerned about rumors that the House had defenses capable of slaughtering entire armies in an instant. Shen Chun assured him these concerns were unfounded.
That night Shen Chun spoke with Little Red Mantis (his men had brought him to the sect headquarters that day). Little Red Mantis had approached Shen Chun months ago saying he knew about the Blood Dagger of Boa's whereabouts. Little Red Mantis said he could give the information for 1 million spades. Shen Chun paid and Little Red Mantis said that the spider demon and her special blade were to be found at the Liang Manor of the Invincible Ritual Masters.
On his way to sleep, Shen Chun went to speak with Lady Plum Blossom but found she wasn't in her chambers. The next day his servant told him that Iron Clawed Lion King was dead, that they'd found him in his bed a moment ago. Shen Chun summoned physician Liao Cao who determined the cause was Plum Blossom Hellebore. He also said that it was ingested from his food.
Shen Chun went to his kitchen to find out which cook had made his food. He learned that Cook Chan had done so, but hadn't been seen all day. Asking who Chan spent his time with, they said a nun of Tree Dwelling Nun sect named Cao Di.
He went to Ferocious Flower's quarters and asked if he could see her disciple Cao Di. She informed him that she had not seen Cao Di since the night before. They sent their men to search and found two bodies. Cao Di was dead from Plum Blossom Hellebore at the bottom of the mountain peak. Chan had seemingly hanged himself in a tree in a nearby grove.
Shen Chun spoke with Physician Liao Cao about making the death of Iron Clawed Lion King seem a heart attack.
This is where the session ended.
*Last session two people impersonated him and Da Mei Mei and killed innocent people.