Chapter 9. Pirates!: Imperial Entanglements

Despite their noble act of sparing Captain Chu's life, The Pirate Captain Hurloon ordered his officers to ruthlessly break into the vault, and kill whoever stood in their way, Imperial or not. After a short scuffle, the Ship's Medic Arver Talvin blinded the man, and Hong Ti delivered the final blow as he struggled on the floor.

It appeared to be worth it once they broke into the vaults of the Angellic Traveller, which was stocked to the brim with coins. Copper coins. However, they did find a magic chest. After showing it to the Captain, they decided to keep it in the hold and open it the next day, when magical precautions could be taken.

They were not so lucky. The Emperor's Guardians arrived a few hours later upon a Sea Serpent, demanding to see the chest. The Seacow's officers gathered below deck to discuss this. They unveiled what was inside, a pair of dragon eggs, as determined by the ship's Dragonmaster, Trogdor. It was determined that he should negotiate with the Guardians, and he attempted to do so. They filled the box with coins, placing the eggs aside.

The Guardians were not fooled. Captain Hurloon was paralyzed magically by the boxes wards when he knocked on it to assure the Guardians of it's safety. They took it from him, and shook it, demanding the key. They found the ruse of the coins, and demanded the replacement of the eggs. Because they were in a desperate situation, and the Seacow had a reputation for getting things done, the Guardians forestalled punishment, promising amnesty for safe delivery of the eggs to An Biao. This was agreed to, in addition to a Letter of Marque, requested by the First Mate Hong Ti, now Captain. So, the Guardians went off to do battle with approaching Neogi, and the Seacow made her way unto An Biao.

It was a long journey, but the monotony was broken up by the untimely arrival of a Neogi Aerial Platform, The Confederate's Revenge. Somehow the Neogi had seen through the Imperial Navy's delaying tactic, and sent a retrieval team for the eggs. However, the Revenge was soundly defeated. A barrage of rocket fire from Arver Talvin destroyed it, forcing the Revenge's crew to board. A fierce battle ensued, as the minotaur battled with enslaved Imperial Ninjas, Sharkmen and Ogres, the choice servents of the Neogi. The remnants of the Revenge held up the bow, coordinating an dazzling offensive. This was ended with a daring cannon shot, coordinated by the Bo'sun Gorath, and the Ship's Mage Kilan Nailo. Afterwards, Kilan slew the last Neogi with a blast of magical fire. The remaining Ninjas surrendered to the Seacow's crew, as the Sharkmen fled into the seas.

The arrival to An Biao was unceremonial. A nervous Minister took the eggs and left in his carriage, leaving behind the key and a slew of questions. The Seacow's officers had the feeling that they may have just been duped.

Chapter 8: The Iron Cranes

Chapter 8: The Iron Cranes

Upon their way north to Castle Shen, Darius and Hien met a rider by the name of Jien Fei. After a brief introduction, he revealed that he was from a group of rebels by the name of the Iron Cranes. They opposed the Shen, and wished to use these brave new Guang Hu against them.

After they agreed, he led them to the Ying Farmhouse, where a gathering of the rebel leaders was taking place. There, Mei Fan the Taoist leader of the Cranes, and her strategist Kyu Sang waited, planning the details of revolution. Suddenly, a Silver Scarves patrol showed up. Unbeknownst to the rebels, it was led by Chen Zhun, also named The Killer, a top lieutenant of the Shen's. Luckily neither Darius or Hien were found.

After joining with Iron Cranes, the rebels decided to seek the advice of the Man of The Mountains. The MOM offered council to the rebel leader, and divined the magics that surrounded Darius and Hien. It was revealed that the stuffed bear that they carried held the soul of a forsaken child, and would haunt them for the rest of their days until they received the aid of the Necromancers who dwelled in the Well of Souls.

Afterwards, the Iron Cranes gathered their things and made their first attack on Shen Tong. After defeating the military leader of the city, Chou Suk, the Silver Scarf forces disentigrated, and many joined the rebels. There Darius and Hien were joined by Quynh, Hien's sister and a priest of the Light. She revealed their family names to the Iron Cranes. and Kyu Sang took them aside and revealed that their Uncle, the Governor of Yuelan, was indeed behind the rise of the Shen. It was determined that the Lung family may be fomenting revolution against the Empire.

For a week, the Iron Cranes liberated many towns until they came upon Lin Jo Tong, where the Silver Scarves under the command of Shen Qisi took the priests at the Taoist Temple hostage in response to rebellion. Mei Fan was much distraught, as like her, the Taoists had taken vows of nonviolence, and could not defend themselves. It was up to the Burning Band to rescue them.

The Burning Band was the name the Iron Cranes attributed to Hien, Darius and Quynh. In their guise as Guang Hu, they adopted the aliases Burnt Hand, Foxfire, and Talking Spirit respectively. Over dinner they planned the rescue with a map consisting of barbeque pork, and quickly enacted on the plan. It was warned Shen Qisi was a trickster, and he would be coming up with something clever.

It was determined that the issue was solved with an aerial attack. The chimney was the quickest access to the Holy Altar where the high priest and Shen Qisi were held up. They were ambushed by a ninja foe, but he was quickly dispatched. Descending into the Temple, they found Shen Qisi tied up, and the High Priest free. But Hien was not fooled, Shen had actually disguised himself as the High Priest, and vice versa.

When the ruse was discovered, his hench woman Huifua, a master chemist and grenadier. An epic battle was fought with fire and magic, but in the end Huifua was killed and Shen Qisi surrendered. The temple's holy artifact, the Staff of Air and Water, was awarded to the Burning Band for their heroics.

Unfortunately, Shen Qisi revealed that the hostage sitatuation was a ruse. While it was thought that this was merely bluster, the truth was revealed when Kyu Sang burst into the room, revealing that the main horde of Silver Scarves were only two days away.

Rules for Flyers

Alot of questions come up when you involve flight and combat.
Here are the answers.
Interesting things include stalling, and what happens when you bullrush, trip and overrun flyers. (Namely, they stall.)

All About Movement: Part Five: http://wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/rg/20040706a
All About Movement: Part Four: http://wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/rg/20040629a

Chapter 7: Pirates!

Chapter 7: Pirates!

While Hien, Darius and Otylia were making their way through the Shen Lands, Captain Hurloon decided to take his leave from Xian Hoy. Picking up his old First Mate Hong Ti and the Renegade Kilan Nalio, he set about pirating again.

Having picked up a tip from his spies, a course was set for the Imperial Treasure Ship, The Angelic Traveller. She was lightly armed and without a full crew, dropping them for speed. For the Seacow, she would be easy prey.

Once she was found, Hong Ti was placed in charge of the assault. They pursued her close, when the Traveller made a daring lateral swing and opened fire with her portside cannon. Weathering the fusilade, the Seacow rammed her with her prow and the Minotaurs under the command of Hong Ti and Kilan Nalo slaughtered her undermanned crew, and sent the ships' captain fleeing.

Later they began looting the ship. Ti and Kilan found a secret door leading into an extradimensional vault, guarded as a last stand by the ship's captain. As part of a deal, they agreed to leave him be in exchange for the rest of the ship.

Unfortunately, Ninjas struck. A great deal of the minotaur crew were caught offguard by the silent assasins, but they were eventually killed. Ti and Kilan pursued One Ninja who had taken the ship's logs up a mast in a swashbuckling fight involving ropes and sails. The Ninja was defeated when he tried to swing across the length of the ship, but thrown to the ground with Kilan's magic. After all the commotion was dealt with, the ship was looted and the spoils divided.

Chapter 6: A Lasting Consequence

Chapter 6: A Lasting Consequence

In this chapter, Hien, Otylia and Darius were reunited in dire circumstances. After wandering listlessly through the forest for days, Hien and Darius found themselves alone, walking through murk in a daze. When they came to Hien encountered Otylia in a pool of blood, and Darius was found later stabbed with a long dagger in his chest. It was reasoned that the stuffed bear retreived from the merchant family of sleeper agents was behind this.

Afterwards, they spent 10 days and nights trekking through unending forest. The problem was resolved after Hien used sap to glue the bear's button eyes back. It was determined that the bear was cursed. The most likely reason is that it happened to be clutched in the hands of a child slain essentially by suicide; a traumatic experience to be sure.

Later that day they met of with four men in silver scarves, who declared themselves as marshals of the region. The leader, a particularly handsome region, named them the Silver Scarves Brotherhood, protectors of the surrounding lands in the name of the Emperor.

After a brief talk, they determined that the companions should be recruited. They led them to a nearby town, and had them meet with a training instructor. Hien and the group were told to prove their prowess by fighting armed men, without being armed themselves. They demonstrated their skill without killing their foes, much to the disappointment of the recruiter. Disgusted at this behavior, they left.

Later they traveled along the road and visited a farm house. There, the lady of the house informed them that they had entered Shen lands- The Silver Scarves Brotherhood was the Shen mercenary army, and Shen Tong was the city they had left. In exchange for food, she requested their aid in consulting an oracle, and plowing the fields.

Darius was sent to see the Man of the Mountain, who knew much about his name and past. Unfortunately, the warlock did not believe in his powers, and was unsatisfied with the results. They left the farm, continuing up the road, now uncertain what to do.

Update: Laws of the Land

Clerics and other Divine Spellcasters- How the Celestial Empire views Divine spellcasters via the Ministry of Magic.

Clerics and Divine Spellcasters

In the clans of course, divine spellcasters that do not worship Sharia are considered infidels. They are allowed to conduct their business, but punished severely for proselytizing or attempting to convert anyone.

Update Exotic Locations

The Blood Alliance is up. They are a coalition of minotaurs bound as sailors for the Empire.

Exotic Locations:The Blood Alliance

Update: Races

Statistics for Nezumi and Minotaurs have been posted.
Also, it should be noted as a house rule, I do not penalize for racial multiclassing. Often it seems superfluous and frankly I don't really see how it balances or enchances anything.
Races

Chapter 5: The Road Leads to Vengence

After being alerted to an approaching band with arms and armor, the companions decided to split up for safety. Hien would go see them, while the others would venture ahead.

The armed band revealed themselves to be the Righteous Marshals of the Southcoast Road, dedicated to stopping banditry and Neogi from blocking travel along that major landroute. Taking Hien into custody, they took her to their fortress for proper identification.

There at Beishi (Southern Rock) Fortress, she met with General Changya Ki, who demanded her aid in requesting reinforcements from her Uncle. She spent a night in the warrens, and then made her request. The Governor of Yuelan, Lung Jihwei, denied the request, stating that the Tiger Army and an Imperial Advisor were already in the area. Meanwhile, he accused the Minister of lying, and proclaimed the Shen brother's innocence. It was revealed that Hien's father was killed by poison, and she has yet to avenge him.

Afterwards, Hien was conflicted. The old rat Void Master gave her a gift to guide her way, the Twelve Dragon Seal in quicksilver and branded to her palm. It would let her know where her loyalties lie.

With this knowledge, she determined to return to Xian Hoy to question Minister Jong.

Darius was delivered at this point in chains, accused of banditry and being a Renegade. Earlier Darius, Otylia and Red were startled by an armed party and began demanding answers from the Marshals. It quickly heated into conflict, leading to the two women fleeing and Darius' capture. General Ki allowed him to leave when Hien promised to register him at the Jade Tower.

The two returned to the road, where they were attacked by merchants wielding gunpowder weapons. They were suicidal in nature, attacking without remorse or emotion. It was surmised that these were Neogi Sleeper Agents, poor people implanted with triggered suggestions that turned them into assasins and worse. From the battle, Darius picked up a small stuffed bear with a half-sewn on eye that seemed to escape relatively unscathed an explosion that left it's young owner little more than a wet spot on the ground.

As they continued, they encountered the bodies of the men they encountered in the marshes of Xian Hoy, hammered into trees and declared bandits by Imperial decree.

They continued to travel north, bereft of supplies and plagued by supernatural happenings regarding the bear, hoping to meet with their companions once again.

The log

Update: House Rules: Social Skills and Spell Changes

We are now using the Spell Changes and Social Skills clauses under House Rules. Please note accordingly.

Social Skills
Spell Changes

Update: Items and Encountered NPCs

Items: Repeating Heavy Crossbow and Blackpowder Bombs
Encountered NPCs: Since Chapter III.

Chapter 4: A Meeting with the Minister

After waking in the local inn, our companions set out for the city plaza to do some shopping. Little did they know however, that they were going to witness a murder. Once they reached the interior, the heroes noticed a black masked man apprehend and kill a well dressed man in the fountain.

After giving brief chase, the murderer got away. They instead decided to retrieve the townguard, who called in the respectable Inspector Min. After a brief survey, the Inspector bid the companions to take the body to Minister Jong Wu, as the dead man was indeed his brother, Jong Sun. They were also not to leave the province.

After a short trek through the plains outside the city, they reached Jong Wu's household. After much lamentation, Minister Jong determined that the outlaw nobles the Shen brothers were behind the killing, and requested that the adventurers find thier castle and kill them. In exchange he would pay them richly, and gave him his wife's dowry in advance.

After agreeing and purchasing supplies, the companions set out along the road to Zhong Tien, where it is believed that the Shen Li, the Shen Brother's castle is to be located in the southern part of the province.

On the way, they encountered a large marsh crocodile that ate on of thier horses. The next day, they had the misfortune to be lured into attacking a giant who had held a kitsune captive. They fought a ferocious battle, killing 5 men and the giant. The kitsune was ungrateful when released, particularly annoyed at the companions demanding and mercenary attitudes. Thus he decided to capriciously twist thier wishes to his own amusement. After a period of antics, Otylia was brought onto the seen, along with her equipment acquired prior to slavery. The party also received 340 platinum pieces, a magical fox-head towershield, and a large book discussing wishmaking legalities. Afterwards the kitsune vanished, hoping never to see the band again.

The long road still stretches to Zhong Tien. The companions must travel through the dangerous lands of the Jade Tower, and still they do not know the location of Shen Li.