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This is the eleventh 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.
BEFORE DEPARTING MAI CUN
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| Map by Francesca Baerald |
"You are bold to ask this so directly," Said Floating Sea God Zhang Shisan. "I fear there is little you can learn from me. I may need to direct you elsewhere."
"Are there any great masters with exceptional Qigong?"
Shisan thought and told him that Gentle Sage of Hen-Shi Temple was renowned for such abilities, but he was an imperial agent, and also a friend of Hell Burning Sword*.
Fu Yao conferred with Bao Long and Little Guan Hua, and they decided to head to Hen-Shi temple with the aim of stealing Gentle Sage's manual (Little Guan Hua had heard there was a rumor he had a manual containing all his techniques). Before they left, Little Guan Hua asked her informants to find where the Sandstone Nun was so they could track her down. Fu Yao brought the old thief, Guan Yu for the journey.
THE SANDSTONE NUN
On the road to Hen-Shi Temple, just as they were leaving the city, they received a message that the Sandstone Nun was following them. Soon after it arrived they saw her in the distance, dressed in purple robes and a veil, gaining ground on them.
Little Guan Hua commanded everyone to head for a nearby cliff and get the high ground. The surrounding landscape was shallow so the cliff only afforded about fifteen feet of height. From the cliff they stood their ground as the Sandstone Nun approached.
"Repent for your misdeeds and lead me to your Master Little Guan Hua and Bao Long," Said the Sandstone Nun. "I will show mercy and merely cripple your kung fu if you do so."
"You want us to betray Master Wan Mei?" Asked Bao Long. "Why?"
"I want you to lead me to her, she has terrorized the region with her Ghost Hand Kung Fu, killing villagers indiscriminately."
"No, she is a nice lady," Said Bao Long**
As the others were about to attack, Little Guan Hua stayed their hands, saying "Our master told me to strike her first and deliver her to the grave with the Clutch of the Ghost King technique she taught me."
Leaping through the air, Little Guan Hua reached with an outstretched palm, but her momentum was intercepted by The Sandstone Nun's Thunderous Palm of Sun Ming, which struck her in the center of the chest and sent her flying back against the cliffside***
Fu Yao leapt high into the air, then attempted his diving falcon technique, however he missed, and struck the ground, with a bone crunching thud****
Bao Long decided to test out his Blade of the Dancing Fox technique against her. He leapt forward and she could not defend against his attack as he sliced her multiple times with his sword blade*****
Fearing Bao Long's swordplay, the Sandstone Nun performed a standing meditation and they all felt the rush of air as a mighty force from heaven prepared to collapse upon them.
Fu Yao pleaded for mercy.
"Repent and promise to do no evil!"
Fu Yao assented. Bao Long Bristled. The Sandstone looked toward Little Guan Hua.
"I may promise to do so," Hedged Little Guan Hua.
The full power of her Thunderous Palm of the Heavens fell upon them, but spared Fu Yao. Little Guan Hua was crushed to the brink of death. Bao Long was largely unaffected by the attack and scoffed.
"My Master would never launch such a pitiful attack as this," Said Bao Long.
Bao Long and she exchanged blows, with Bao Long wounding her again. The Sandstone Nun dropped into a mediation again, but this time took one long breath, and with that breath her body began to wither, to desiccate until she looked like a petrified corpse******
"Repent," She said.
Bao Long clawed at her with his Flesh Ripping Fingers, but his attacks had no effect. Little Guan Hua then struck her and her attacks caused the flesh to flake away.
The Sandstone Nun began to sing a chant, and Bao Long and Little Guan Hua felt it painfully in their bones. The pain caused Little Guan Hua to pass out.
Bao Long Once again attacked, this time using his Blade of the Dancing Fox, but his efforts seemed to have no effect.
"Repent," She said. And her body burst into a cloud of dust.
Believing his attacks and immense strength had finally finished her off, Bao Long rebuked Fu Yao for his cowardice.
Looking around they saw that Qi He, Little Guan Hua's guide and servant, was dead, as was Guan Yu, the thief Fu Yao had brought along.
They sent for a new guide from the Heavenly Fragrance Association, and discussed what to do about Fu Yao's cowardly behavior. It was decided he would be docked his normal stipend for a prolonged period of time.
Qi He's replacement, Ling Buwei arrived and they set off for Hen-Shi Temple after resting enough to recover.
At the temple, they saw Yao guardians at the entrance and decided to sneak onto the rooftop using Qinggong abilities. From there they spotted Gentle Sage in one of the courtyards and prepared to make their attack.
*Hell Burning Sword is enemies with Lady 87
**Bao Long is simple-minded and has the unintelligent Flaw
***She suffered about 6-7 wounds from the attack and a -1d10 to her muscle for 2 rounds
****He was 75 feet in the air so took 6d10 open damage plus 1 Extra Wound due to the fall
*****This attack did 9 wounds to the Sandstone Nun
******She used Profound Meditation to turn into a Pure One
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