PATHS FROM NOWHERE SESSIONS ELEVEN AND TWELVE

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.   

HEIPING VALLEY 

Xiang Guiying left Pan Ju in Kusha and headed to Heiping Village to meet Zheng Bao. Four Feathered people surrounded Guiying and demanded a tribute for the Horned King. 

In a twirl of steel, Guiying left them in bloody heaps upon the ground, but still alive. 

"These four lives are my tribute to your king"

She continued to Heiping Sect where she found Zheng Bao was in training. Zheng Bao trained for weeks and mastered two techniques. Queen Lu Zhi recommended he seek out the Silken Robe Society to train further. But after discussion, he and Guiying decided to go to Golden Dragon Temple instead, then seek out the Tomb of the Timeless Master. 

Before they left, a letter arrived from Zhaoze Palace: 

Zhaoze Palace is awash with grief. Our great leader, Shan Lushan, is dead! He was killed by the ignoble Pan Ju, Xiang Guiying and Zheng Bao. Unsatisfied with murder alone, they also cut off the arms of my sweet daughter. This evil must be extinguished from the Jianghu! 

Master Huo Si, Supreme Chief of Zhaoze Sect

Queen Lu Zhi informed them that such a letter had been sent to all the sects in the Banyan. Zheng Bao asked if she would send a letter refuting his claims, and she agreed to do so (they had explained what really happened to her).

When they were finished they set off to rendezvous with Pan Ju at Golden Dragon Temple. 

KUSHA 

In Kusha, Pan Ju met with his father, Negui Mogha, the adviser to the Khagan. Kusha was a mining settlement lead by him and Princess Sarnai. 

"Show me what you have learned son," Nergui said. 

Pan Ju demonstrated the techniques that Yellow Mantis had taught him and his father was impressed. Nergui then handed Pan Ju a massive meteor hammer. 

"The time has come for you to learn to fight like a man and to put away your feminine cutlery!" 

He then began training Pan Ju in the meteor hammer and in his Knock of the Meteor Hammer technique. 

When they finished he instructed Pan Ju to seek out a powerful master. After learning that Pan Ju's sworn brother was a disciple of Jade Swallow, he said "She is far too orthodox for the likes of us. You need to seek a master more like Shan Lushan. Were he still alive, and you not accused of his murder, he would have been an ideal choice. Seek out a great master like him to improve your martial skills."

Before leaving Pan Ju snuck into Princess Sarnai's tent and stole The Phoenix Crown of Bao, then left in the night for Golden Dragon Palace. 

MADAME TURQUOISE 

The day Guiying and Zheng Bao set out was the first of the Demon Moon. Undeterred they made their way through the Jian Shu forest and came upon a toppled cart. At the base of the card was a dead man in red robes, and a dried pool of crimson blood. A woman, who looked refined and wealthy, was curled up on a high rock in seeming distress. Turquoise stones were scattered everywhere. 

The woman said her name was Sun Mei and the man was her husband. She pleaded with them to take her with them or escort her north. 

"Where are you heading?" 

"To Kusha," She said. 

They offered to escort her but became suspicious as they inspected the cart more. It seemed the wagon had come from the direction of Kusha. She was able to confirm her husband's name was Pei Tieqiao, but her story was inconsistent and they decided to leave her behind. 

As they declined her request, the skin on her body slid off, and she was revealed to be little more than a rotting corpse. Her body opened up as a mouth and she bit Zheng Bao. 

Guiying cut off her leg, then Zheng Bao stabbed her in the back. She crawled away and pleaded for mercy, saying she would serve them. But Guiying delivered a whipping strike that sent her to hell. 

They took the wagon, the money inside and the turquoise, then headed north. 

THE MERCY OF HEN-SHI

Pan Ju had only a day of travel, but along the way, stumbled upon a battle. A Nun and swordswoman in green robes were fighting. 

"She is crazed," Said the woman in green. "Give me a hand."

"Don't listen to this demon, she is a vile beast!" Said the Nun

Pan Ju looked on, unsure what to do. The woman in green stabbed the nun. 

The Nun fought with a dagger and parasol. "Don't just stand there, help me deal with this creature," Shouted the nun. 

"She is mad, and she will call you demonic when she is done with me." Said the woman in Green as the two woman stabbed each other. 

Pan Ju decided. 

The sky was darkened by his daggers. 

The woman in green collapsed. Her body vanished beneath her robes and a snake slithered from inside. 

The Nun trapped the snake in a magic gourd and chuckled. 

"I am Feng Min," Said the Nun. 

Pan Ju introduced himself and asked about her background. 

"I am follower of Sun Mai, though I have not formally been admitted to the Sun Mai order."

She was on her way to Golden Dragon Temple, so they agreed to travel the remaining distance together. 

Arriving at the temple, they were greeted by Emerald Master who gave them quarters and said  Bronze Master would be eager to meet with their friends when they arrived. 

A FATAL BREEZE 

Guiying and Zheng Bao traveled several days but found themselves surrounded by creatures in the woods, corpses with black eyes, small mouths and swollen bellies. They stretched out their arms pleadingly. 

"I don't understand you, but let us pass and we will not harm you," Said Zheng Bao. 

One of the creatures opened its mouth and unleashed a foul wind that sickened Guiying and Zheng Bao. The two fled but found themselves growing more and more ill as they traveled. By the time they reached Golden Dragon Temple, their minds were addled and they were near death. 

Pan Ju examined them and realized they were suffering from Malignant Wind Disease. Thankfully, Feng Min knew the ritual for expelling the malignant winds and performed it on them both*. She then gave them the Scriptures of Sun Mai and told them to make offerings to Hen Shi when they were able to do so. 

When they were well the party met with Bronze Master. Zheng Bao introduced himself as the disciple of Jade Swallow and apologetically mentioned his familial relation to Bone Breaker. 

"There is no reason to be ashamed," Said Bronze Master. "Though his methods are unusual, he is a truly accomplished individual. I will give you personal instruction and teach your friends a thing or two as well."

Bronze Master took Zheng Bao aside, saying he was going to teach him a secret technique. 

"I would like to take you as my secret pupil if you are willing. I can help your kung fu reach new heights."

"I would need to tell my teacher," Said Zheng Bao.

"There is no need to disclose any of this to her. I will show you what I know and you can introduce me to your uncle."

"I am afraid I must tell my teacher everything."

"In that case I will simply teach you a minor technique and you can introduce me to your uncle later."

Bronze Master gave Zheng Bao instruction, then taught Pan Ju and Guiying some Qinggong. Before they departed Zheng Bao said he would take Bronze Master to his uncle at a later date. 

Feng Min asked where they were going. When they told her they planned to find the Tomb of the Timeless Master, she offered to accompany them. 

"Your companion aided me in dealing with the snake demon, I would like to reciprocate and accompany you."

They agreed and left to find the tomb. 

*They had only had three days to live when they reached the temple