TTJP Season 1 Episode 19 Expert Diplomacy!

 

Casting: Tiger Team!

• Jian Wu (Two) (Christian) 14M; Our smith and all around craftsman, carries a huge sword and Master of Dragon Man Kung Fu.
• Jiao Ting (Eight) (Chris D) 14M; Reckless grappler; Black Palm
• Liang Jing Min (Five) (Randy) 14M; Noble, on the outs with family; Chinese Spear Fighting.
• Nongmin Chushi (Seven) (Rory) 14M; He talks to spirits, inquisitive and charming perhaps a wee bit too friendly to strangers. Shaman, Eagle Fist Chin Na, Quarterstaff.
• Shang Yi (One) (Calvin) 14M; Natural leader and archer. Shedao
• Zhiyu Zhige (Nine) (Laurie) 14F; Sorcerer specializing in healing. Eagle Fist Chin Na.
• He Bohi (Eleven) 14M; Twin, grew up near the docks. Eagle Fist Chin Na, focused on striking.
• He Donghai (Twelve) 14M;, Twin, Eagle Fist Chin Na, focused on grappling.
• Ko Lanfen (Four) 14F; Solid Order devotee. Tai Chi Chuan,
• Laoshu (Three aka Mouse) 15F; Quiet and deadly with a knife. Dagger Fighting
• Meiyou Ren (Six) 14M; Also good with a blade, possibly any blade.
• Rang Baozhai (Ten) 15F; Our bookworm and nerd. Eagle Fist Chin Na.

Having dispatched the cultists at the Rats Nest our plucky band regroups at the teahouse.  Rang has been hard at work mapping out the city and figuring out vulnerable locations. She made a fresh map based on the days research and identified the cisterns and a few other places we should watch.

Discussing among ourselves we involve the inn keeper and show him the list. We decide to go to the Minister of Affairs to warn him and get his help. Rang continues her work in the meantime.

Opening Remarks

We quickly reach the home of the Minister of Affairs but its very late and the guard tells us to come back tomorrow. The Minister has no time for a bunch of kids, especially this late at night. Chushi decides since conversation does not seem to work and the guard would have to explain to his superiors why he let us in even if he does that something dramatic is in order.  Also the player couldnt think of a more reasoned argument to justify waking his boss up on the account of a handful of strangers. Chushi channels his spirit pressure into lifting the guard gently a foot off the ground and setting him back down. The guard acts as if he was attacked (Ok thats fair) and surprisingly breathes fire on Chushi, burning his face severely! He makes his HT roll to stay conscious and not fall down. Zhige quickly heals him fully and Wu goes to cut the rope to the alarm bell as the guard tries to ring it, cutting part of the bell on the downstroke. Chushi then uses Diplomacy (skill 20) to deescalate the situation by pointing out that he did not mean to attack the guard but just demonstrate they were not average street youths.  Also his compliments on the breath of fire, good job there.

Between his high margin of success and the capability just demonstrated by three different members of the group the guard opts to let us in.

The Minister of Affairs

Were taken to the library where we are greeted by the Ministers assistant, who was surprised we were let in but apparently trusted the guard (who appeared to be head of security, though we weren't told that). We told our story and were asked for proof, surprisingly none of us really had thought that part through. I mention were 14 and raised in a monastery? We suggested the bodies should still be at the Rats Nest, another suggested he consult the noble whose daughter we recued but Chushi pointed out he was already gone - though his sudden departure might be some corroboration at least. While discussing these things the Minister showed up and got involved.  The assistant tried to shoo him off but he was intrigued by our presence, also Zhige turned on the charm, shes really beautiful when she wants to be. How come we never noticed?  FYI she has Transcendent Appearance though somehow the group never noticed... The guard comes back with word that what we told him was true and the Minister is given a copy of our list (yes we made sure he wasn't on it) and writes up papers giving us authority as his representatives in certain matters. Yi uses his whistle to send a message to Rang (Chushi made it, an air spirit can send words to whomever you think of), whereupon the Minister exclaims there are more of us?  We say yes and explain that part. He pulls out more papers adding Rang and the others to the list, plus giving her access to official records and the library.

We thank him and head out. Oh, the Minister was very nice, even had his servants give Ting a new robe since his was burned pretty badly.  Ting not really thrilled but took the finery stoically enough.

Aftermath

Short session really. We show up on the call about 30 minutes before game time to chat but that went on longer than normal and we apparently went off script a bit and the GM has to prepare the chosen location for the next fight.  Great game, plenty of social stuff which is what Chushi was built for but everyone had something to do. Most of the players have at least one social skill and some innate reaction bonuses so were all good in social situations, even Ting!

Stardust class

 

Made by Stardust Enterprises  this is their signature starship and their first product. A small fast 2 man cargo ship designed to haul small but precious cargo, often emergency medical supplies. It is capable of 3g acceleration and delivering 9 tons of refrigerated cargo and 9 extra tons at normal temperature.

It is streamlined and has contragravity lifters so is able to land almost anywhere, especially with its short length of 45 feet.

TL 10^ SM+5, $1,834.5k

Front Hull System

[1] Nanocomposite Armor (SL dDR 5).

[2-6] Cargo Holds, Refrigerated (1.5 tons capacity each).

[core] Control Room (C6 computers, comm/sensor 4, one control stations).

Central Hull System

[1] Nanocomposite Armor (SL dDR 5).

[2-5] Cargo Holds (1.5 tons capacity each).

[6] Power Plant, Antimatter (4!).

Rear Hull System

[1] Nanocomposite Armor (SL dDR 5).

[2-3] Cargo Holds (1.5 tons capacity each).

[4-6!] Hot Reactionless Drive (3G acceleration).

[core] Control Room (C6 computers, comm/sensor 4, one control stations).

Special: Artificial and Contragravity system, Contragravity Lifter.

TTJP Season 1 Episode 18 The Rats Nest

Casting: Tiger Team!

• Jian Wu (Two) (Christian) 14M; Our smith and all around craftsman, carries a huge sword and Master of Dragon Man Kung Fu.
• Jiao Ting (Eight) (Chris D) 14M; Reckless grappler; Black Palm
• Liang Jing Min (Five) (Randy) 14M; Noble, on the outs with family; Chinese Spear Fighting.
• Nongmin Chushi (Seven) (Rory) 14M; He talks to spirits, inquisitive and charming perhaps a wee bit too friendly to strangers. Shaman, Eagle Fist Chin Na, Quarterstaff.
• Shang Yi (One) (Calvin) 14M; Natural leader and archer. Shedao
• Zhiyu Zhige (Nine) (Laurie) 14F; Sorcerer specializing in healing. Eagle Fist Chin Na.
• He Bohi (Eleven) 14M; Twin, grew up near the docks. Eagle Fist Chin Na, focused on striking.
• He Donghai (Twelve) 14M;, Twin, Eagle Fist Chin Na, focused on grappling.
• Ko Lanfen (Four) 14F; Solid Order devotee. Tai Chi Chuan,
• Laoshu (Three aka Mouse) 15F; Quiet and deadly with a knife. Dagger Fighting
• Meiyou Ren (Six) 14M; Also good with a blade, possibly any blade.
• Rang Baozhai (Ten) 15F; Our bookworm and nerd. Eagle Fist Chin Na.

Fourteen Year Old Masterminds

After the conversation with the minister Zhige did some divination and interpreted the results as we needed to look for a rats nest. Bohi (or was it Donghai?) knew about an old inn called the Rats Nest that had burned down years ago. Sounded like a plan to us! We gathered everyone for a raid on the place, leaving Rang and Bohi at the Starlight Inn to keep researching. Yi could use his speaking whistle to reach them if they were needed.

The party arrived at the burned out inn which appeared to be converted to a grave yard. One wall had a huge hole in it you could march 3 people through side by side and there were tables made from coffins and other stuff that would make a goth person proud. Not that we knew of such things of course!

Mouse used her powers to turn into a mouse and sneak in to explore the place.  She quickly came back and gave us the layout, though we could see a lot of it ourselves.  All in all it was a good sized inn and had 10 cultists and 8 bone demons it it, plus the daughter who was tied up in a small tower like room on one side. Zhige and Chushi briefed the others on what they could expect from the demons, basically really strong and dont get stung! We opted to have Mouse sneak in through a window to rescue the daughter (as a human, not a mouse so she could attack right away) and half the group would rush in through the hole in the wall which was close to the room she was in. The other half would break in the front door as a distraction and try to split them up.

While group B snuck up towards the hole, group A went for the door, and Yi provided covering fire from behind some coffin tables. He also led off with a great Tactics roll that gave us 10 die rerolls to use. We needed them, used 9 I think.

Group A: Ting, Wu, and Chushi (He planned on gong through the hole but was too slow)

Group B: Jing Min, Zhige, Donghai, Lanfen, and Ren.

The Attack Begins!

Wu broke the door down with his sword (probably weighs more than the door) making enough racket to catch everyone's attention. He got two fireballs tossed at him for his trouble which he handily dodged then parried a demons tail. Ting then slammed a bone demon after jumping over the fire pit in the entrance and smacked it real good. Then he used Extra Attack to hit it crippling its leg. Chushi followed up by stepping onto the porch and tried to Rapid Strike with his spirit projection (TK) but missed. Used a reroll to hit and hit for 7 damage.

Group B led by Jing Min rushed in through the breech in the wall and stabbed a bone demon. Ren went and cut off the tail on another demon. Yi plinked a demon with a couple of arrows. Bohi kicked one in the head. The demons then countered, two attacking Ying Min the rest just had one each.

That was pretty much the first round f combat, lets hit the highlights.

• Ting had the shiniest moment when he took two fireballs and got set on fire. He followed that up by standing up after being knocked down (also at negative HP) and used Intimidation on a couple of cultists and a demon. A cultist actually fainted!
• Wu shattered a few skeletons and cut a cultist pretty much in two.

Afterwards

Overall we did well, the GM expected it to be a two session fight but we cleared it in one. Everyone contributed meaningfully. Zhige saved a few people with her healing plus used her fireballs to explode a demon. We also found out why she was chasing fireflies as she used a shield to protect herself. Yi was really helpful with that Tactics skill.  The GM tended to roll really well and critted several times (at least 16 times), the rerolls allowed us to use our defense rolls. The scariest moment was the first hit by a fireball - they hurt quite a bit and were a bigger threat than the demons.

Chushi just used his TK to punch as ST 12 was too low to risk a grab but probably should have tried it on the cultists. I forgot they get an effective penalty from trying to break out of a two-handed grab.

 We saved the fainting cultist for interrogation next session.

It was a fun session but pretty much all combat so was more fun playing than reading about.

TTJP Season 1 Episode 17 A Trip to Town

 

Casting: Tiger Team!

• Jian Wu (Two) (Christian) 14M; Our smith and all around craftsman, carries a huge sword and Master of Dragon Man Kung Fu.
• Jiao Ting (Eight) (Chris D) 14M; Reckless grappler; Black Palm
• Liang Jing Min (Five) (Randy) 14M; Noble, on the outs with family; Chinese Spear Fighting.
• Nongmin Chushi (Seven) (Rory) 14M; He talks to spirits, inquisitive and charming perhaps a wee bit too friendly to strangers. Shaman, Eagle Fist Chin Na, Quarterstaff.
• Shang Yi (One) (Calvin) 14M; Natural leader and archer. Shedao
• Zhiyu Zhige (Nine) (Laurie) 14F; Sorcerer specializing in healing. Eagle Fist Chin Na.
• He Bohi (Eleven) 14M; Twin, grew up near the docks. Eagle Fist Chin Na, focused on striking.
• He Donghai (Twelve) 14M;, Twin, Eagle Fist Chin Na, focused on grappling.
• Ko Lanfen (Four) 14F; Solid Order devotee. Tai Chi Chuan,
• Laoshu (Three aka Mouse) 15F; Quiet and deadly with a knife. Dagger Fighting
• Meiyou Ren (Six) 14M; Also good with a blade, possibly any blade.
• Rang Baozhai (Ten) 15F; Our bookworm and nerd. Eagle Fist Chin Na.

Training Montage

So the group went through 3 years of training, mostly under Pai Mei - though most had another teacher as well for a specific style. Chushi and Zhige also continued training under the Green Seer.

Several of the group learned Eagle Fist Chin Na from Pai Mei, though Zhige was by far the best at it. That annoyed Pai Mei quite a bit and we had a lot of extra stair climbing because of it.

Chushi learned more shamanism but was held back a little by the Green Seer who wants him stronger before learning more advanced material.  Or wiser, wiser is good, but she is not holding out much hope for that. So he learned how to project his spirit more quickly and for longer, lift more with his telekinesis, and how to shield his mind,  Also he made two fetishes for his friends.

A Test in Town

The group is taken to the portal chamber and sent to a port city. Turns out to be where the twins were born and the seedy side of town. We're handed a bunch of gold, a coin at a time (did I mention its a seedy side of town?) and told to deliver it and a note to a teahouse on the other side of town. Oh, and were not allowed to fight, except in self defense IF there is no other choice and will be watched and judged based on how quickly we get there and any fighting.

As soon as Pai Mei leaves a bunch of street thugs at the entrance of the alley we arrived in come towards us. We opt to climb the walls of the three story buildings to avoid a fight, everyone making the Climbing skill roll and many of the thigs failing.  Zhige grabs one and does a Judo throw as he ran to her, tossing him back towards his friends.  They give up and leave as we run quickly across the rooftops.

We arrive at the teahouse with no further difficulty and are told we have the rest of the day off and rooms reserved for us. Also we can use the gold to pay for meals and whatever. Zhige took Mouse clothes shopping, the rest stayed at the inn.  We had a great meal with Chushi trying everything and figuring out the recipes for later use (Discriminatory Taste with Profiling and Cooking -17). The bar had an open entertainment, first up were some bad poets so several members of the group decided to get up and try our singing and dancing. Chushi decided to channel a spirit to help with local music and when the group got back to the table the owner remarked it was an old favorite and dinner was free.

Some people got too drunk and had to be escorted upstairs. Rang tried to kiss Ting, while Jing Min kept speculating this was all part of the test and made sure to drink and eat in moderation. We had a great nights sleep, though most still got up early.

Trouble Brewing

In the morning as we have breakfast and overhear a customer begging the owner for help. Some mention of the gates being down is made. Zhige tests and her magic works but is a bit sluggish. Chushi and Yi go up and ask what the conversation was all about and after a bit of demurement overcome by good reaction rolls get an address and a few of us head out. We talk to the guy, his daughter was kidnapped by the Black Silk group as hostage for his information.  Turns out he was working for them, giving them information on local business and government people.  He got nervous and backed out but was too late.  We offer to see what we can do and the evening ends.