CYOA: Legends of the Jianghu

[Grandkhan]

A wins.

"I would be honoured to be the inheritor of the legacy of the Wuju Style," you tell Master Yi, as you bow low. (+5 Orthodoxy)

"Good, good," responds the hermit. He cackles and rubs his hands gleefully, though by this point you are expecting the bruising.

The next week is the hardest you have trained in your life. Master Yi is a strong believer in full contact sparring, and against the old hermit, you go to sleep every night nursing heavy bruises. Still, you feel your mastery of the rudiments of the Wuju Style growing by the day, and every bruise is a new lesson.

The Wuju Style, as Master Yi explains, is based around rapid movement and flexibility of approach. It utilises not only punches and kicks, but also elbow drops and strikes, knees, and even, as Master Yi demonstrates on you one afternoon, headbutts. Its mastery of jump and spin-kicks, as well as rapid twists to get outside an opponent's grasp, was unmatched in his time, and your shifu believes it still is. It is incredibly different to the Tsui-Ga-Chao Kung Fu you had learned previously, but you still manage to adapt to the style eagerly. (+1 Unarmed Skill, +20 Reputation with Master Yi)

On the moprning of what you think will be the eighth day of strenuous training, Master Yi greets you with your bag packed. "As shifu, I have always believed that one cannot become enlightened and understand the world without living in it. Living atop a mountain as a hermit sage is fine for the elderly immortal, but for the young student it is the path to folly. You have learned well under me, but now it is time for the next step of your training. You are to go out into the world. Learn about it, and its people. Remember, there are great ills in the world today, and the Shaolin strategy of holing yourself up in your mountain will not cure them. I am too old to do it now - that is your generation's duty." Solemnly, he hands you the pack. "Go forth. Learn from who you will, what you will. Do not pass on the teachings of the Wuju Style to those without worth, and I shall not worry. Remember, I am your shifu - I will be here for advice should you ask. Go forth, and be great."

Solemnly, you bow as deep as you ever have. Master Yi, for the first time that you have ever seen, returns it. As you shrug on your pack, you head back down the mountain.

You are atop Mt Cao. There are no merchants here.

One week to your north lies the village of Guayan. The peasants here are rebuilding after defeating bandits.

One week to your east lies Baijia, which has become a haven for a bandit gang plaguing the region.

One week to your south lies the town of Ningyo. There will be a tournament for novice martial artists hosted there soon, with a valuable prize.

Three days to your west lies a small farmstead owned by the Tong family. There is reportedly a tiger that plagues the farm, and the head of the Tong family will pay any man who brings him its pelt.

You decide to...

A: ...strike out on your own (pick a location to go to).

Spoiler stats :

Orthodoxy: 10

Endurance: 6/8

Skills:
Dodge: 2
Gambling: 1
Guns: 0
Medicine: 0
Meelee: 2
Neigong: 2
Qinggong: 1
Repair: 0
Speech: 2
Stealth: 0
Survival: 0
Unarmed: 4
Wisdom: 2

Equipment

Spoiler :

1 sabre
1 Martial Arts Robes
8 Gong
3 Hunting Rifles (15)
1 Revolver (4)
1 Golden Amulet

Reputation

Spoiler :

Tianxia: 0
Wo: 0
Peasantry: 35
Bandits: -20
Orthodox Sects: 10
Unorthodox Sects: -10
Master Yi: 85

 

[JohannaK]

We must recover, so we will go to Guayan to try to find men to put an end to the banditry from Baijia once and for all.

 

[Grandkhan]

If it affects your decision any, as said before you will get a chance to heal up before the tournament either way.

 

[JohannaK]

Actually, we may meet someone in Ningyo more able than the Guayan villagers in order to defeat the evil bandits of Baijia.

 

[Double A]

Right, so let's go south and earn some respect and favors and money so we can punch bandits through walls with the power of friendship.

 

[Grandkhan]

South to Ningyo wins.

You take your leave and head south towards the town of Ningyo. Your journey takes a little under a week, and you are pleasantly surprised to find yourself unmolested during this time. Apparently the bandits do not wish to cross the small range of mountains that stretch between Baijia and Ningyo.

On the way, you meet several travellers headed towards Ningyo. They tell you of the tournament that is coming soon, or are refugees that are fleeing the front lines at Zaoshu and Fort Wan. Occasionally, you hear shouts, and draw your sword, but when you turn around you find that it is merely a band of particularly rowdy travellers on a cart who swiftly pass you by.

When you reach the town, you find that the road into Ningyo has been blocked by a pair of bored looking uniformed soldiers who are waving people past. As you pass them, they stop you, looking at your sabre.

"Its not a katana," one of the says. "Look at his uniform, he's a pugilist." The other soldier nods, and waves you through.

Ningyo is not a particularly large town, though after the relative quiet of Guayan and Xiaoyang, and even more the near total solitude of Mount Cao, it appears bustling to you. Here, everyone is busily going about their daily business, and sometimes it is easy to forget that there is a war on. However, there are still frequent reminders - almost every young man in the village is uniformed and carrying a rifle, and once in a while the scream of a Wokou bomber en route to some more important target rends the air.

Almost every inn in the town is packed due to the upcoming tournament for Martial Artists, which is being organised in a large building near the next square. However, you manage to find one which has a small room available, which you are looking forward to after sleeping on the ground or Master Yi's hard shack floor for so long. (-1 Gong for Inn, food).

You are in the town of Ningyo.

You can sell your items for the following prices:

Spoiler sale prices :

Sabre: 4 Gong
Hunting Rifles: 3 Gong Each.
Hunting Rifle Ammo: 1 Gong per 2
Revolver: 2 Gong
Revolver Ammo: 1 Gong per 2
Golden Amulet: 3 Gong

You can purchase the following items for the following prices:

Spoiler purchase prices :

Shotgun: 5 Gong
Shotgun Ammo: 3 Gong per 2.
Revolver: 3 Gong
Revolver Ammo: 2 Gong per 2.
Hunting Rifle: 5 Gong
Hunting Rifle Ammo: 2 Gong per 2.
Peasant Clothes: 2 Gong
Combat Knife: 2 Gong
Dagger: 3 Gong
Acupuncture Needles: 2 Gong per 3.

One week to your north lies Mount Cao, home of your Shifu Master Yi.

One week to your east there is said to be an ancient tomb of a powerful warrior.

Half a week to your south lies Shen-Shen Air Base, which is controlled by Tian soldiers. There may be work for you there.

Half a week to your west lies Fort Yaxikou. There is a convoy of foreigners bringing aid that require an escort to their destination.

As you settle into your room, you decide to...

A: ...enter the tournament. Maybe you will make a friend?

B: ...look for work around Ningyo. In a big enough town like this, surely someone is looking for someone with your talents.

C: ...set up in the inn looking for brave men and women to clear the bandits out of the environs of Baijia.

D: ...leave Ningyo and go somewhere else (specify destination).

Spoiler stats :

Orthodoxy: 10

Endurance: 6/8

Skills:
Dodge: 2
Gambling: 1
Guns: 0
Medicine: 0
Meelee: 2
Neigong: 2
Qinggong: 1
Repair: 0
Speech: 2
Stealth: 0
Survival: 0
Unarmed: 4
Wisdom: 2

Equipment

Spoiler :

1 sabre
1 Martial Arts Robes
7 Gong
3 Hunting Rifles (15)
1 Revolver (4)
1 Golden Amulet

Reputation

Spoiler :

Tianxia: 0
Wo: 0
Peasantry: 35
Bandits: -20
Orthodox Sects: 10
Unorthodox Sects: -10
Master Yi: 85

Notes: back to shortish updates for now, I guess. No particular reason other than the content is less per update, I guess.

Also, since you guys seemed fairly keen on fighting bandits in Baijia I've added getting a posse together as an option.

 

[JohannaK]

A, if we impress some people and make some friends, then we will have a better chance at C.

 

[Double A]

A. We slept in the inn, shouldn't we have gotten 1 endurance back?

I think we should hold onto an extra hunting rifle but sell the third.
Maybe we should buy a dagger or a knife, maybe two. It'd be nice to have a throwing weapon in our offhand.

 

[JohannaK]

I am for selling two of the hunting rigles. But I am okay if we only sell one. As for purchases, I am more inclined to get a combat knife.

 

[Double A]

Actually, I'd rather wait until after we find some allies before selling the rifles.

 

[Thorvald of Lym]

Actually, I'd rather wait until after we find some allies before selling the rifles.

Seconded. 'Sides, they might need a gun.

 

[Double A]

Exactly.

 

[Grandkhan]

A wins. Combat knife bought.

After the first decent night's rest you've had in a while, you decide to enrol in the tournament being held in the town. That morning, you head to the center of Ningyo to register. (+1 Endurance)

You arrive a little late, and as a result are the last in line. You have adequate time to scope out your competition in the line, as you wait over the half an hour to get there. They appear to be a fearsome lot, judging by their stances, the weapons they carry, and their demeanour.

Finally, you reach the front of the line. The bored looking clerk writes you down, gives you a number (32), and sternly reminds you that the competition will be one of unarmed combat, looking at your sword. He then waves you into the hall where the competitors are gathering before the competition.

The hall is surprisingly quiet, for a room supposedly full of travelling pugilists. You notice that many people are barely talking, and even those that are do so in hushed voices. Then again, you knew that the Pugilistic Community was a jealous bunch full of rivalries, so maybe this is to be expected. You are able to recognise many of the robes and the uniforms displayed in the hall.

At a table, a group of young Shaolin novices sit serenely in silence, not interacting with any other group.

On a table opposite them, a group of Wudang initiates are laughing quietly at some private joke.

Next to them, a few feet away, a mixed group of disciples from Kunlun are staring them down, apparently the butt of it. They look to one young man who sits with them, who shakes his head, at which point they settle for merely occasionally shooting them dark glares.

At the side of the building, three young Emei nuns are hunched up against the wall. One of them looks around shyly, while the other two exhude an air of defiance at everyone who walks past or gives them any kind of look.

At another table, shrouded by their large conical hats - which they insist on wearing inside - three Kongtong initiates converse quietly among themselves.
On the next table, two merry looking young men and one pretty young woman, in the garb of the Huashan Sect, are laughing at a joke the girl has made, though their hands are still resting on their sabres.

One table away, a pair of robed Quanzhen initiates are also quietly discussing something. They are sitting quite close to the door, and you detect a faint whiff of garlic and something you can't place from them.

Up the back, given a wide berth - you assume because of the smell - sit a pair of young boys. From their ragged clothing and the quarterstaffs they carry by their side, they can only be members of the Beggar Sect.

Sitting at a table on her own is an elegant looking young woman. At her side is an ornate jian, and she appears to compose herself with utmost repose.

On another table near her, but apparently being pointedly ignored, lounges a young man dressed in dashing black robes, wearing a pair of daggers at his hip. His feet rest lazily on the table, and he appears to be napping.

You find that you have a while to wait before the rules and the matches for the tournament will be announced. You have time to meet someone during the time you have. You decide that you wish to...

A: ...talk to the Shaolin novices. They have impressive serenity here.

B: ...talk to the Wudang initiates. They seem like fun people to meet!

C: ...talk to the Kunlun initiates. Somebody shooting such dark looks at people must be very morally upright.

D: ...talk to the Emei nuns. Perhaps you can put them at ease here?

E: ...talk to the Kongtong initiates. They look suitably mysterious.

F: ...talk to the Huashan warriors. They look pretty fun.

G: ...talk to the Quanzhen initiates. You love the smell of garlic!

H: ...talk to the Beggars. They must have some interesting stories to tell.

I: ...talk to the elegant young woman. She is probably very noble.

J: ...talk to the dashing young man. You bet he is probably exciting!

K: ...talk to nobody.

L: ...turn around and leave. You decide not to enter the tournament at all.

Spoiler stats :

Orthodoxy: 10

Endurance: 7/8

Skills:
Dodge: 2
Gambling: 1
Guns: 0
Medicine: 0
Meelee: 2
Neigong: 2
Qinggong: 1
Repair: 0
Speech: 2
Stealth: 0
Survival: 0
Unarmed: 4
Wisdom: 2

Equipment

Spoiler :

1 sabre
1 Martial Arts Robes
5 Gong
3 Hunting Rifles (15)
1 Revolver (4)
1 Golden Amulet
1 Combat Knife

Reputation

Spoiler :

Tianxia: 0
Wo: 0
Peasantry: 35
Bandits: -20
Orthodox Sects: 10
Unorthodox Sects: -10
Master Yi: 85

 

[Grandkhan]

Codex: The Great Eight Orthodox Sects

Spoiler :

The Shaolin Sect

The Shaolin sect and its schools are the premier power in the Pugilistic Community. Composed of strict Buddhists and teaching self-control and abstention from worldly desires, the Shaolin enforce a rigid code of Orthodoxy and tranquility upon their members. Despite their strictness, they are the most famous and the largest sect in Tianxia.

The Shaolin teach a combination of unarmed combat based on flowing movements, combat with the quarterstaff, and the cultivation of ones' qinggong to accomplish great physical feats. They are extremely strict, and require their members to adhere to their codes of abstention rigidly. They exclusively train men. They have a reputation for honesty, honour, and sometimes compassion, but sometimes their membership appears disconnected from the outside world, rigid and shy.

The Emei Sect

The Emei sect and its schools are the female counterpart to the Shaolin. Composed of strict Buddhists and teaching self-control and abstention from worldly desires, the Emei enforce a rigid code of Orthodoxy and tranquility upon their members. They are the fourth largest sect in Tianxia.

The Emei teach a combination of unarmed combat based on flowing movements, combat with the whip and the jian, and the cultivation of one's qinggong to accomplish great physical feats. They are extremely strict, and require their members to adhere to their codes of abstention rigidly. They exclusively train women. They have a reputation for honesty, honour, and sometimes compassion, but sometimes their membership appears disconnected from the outside world, rigid and shy.

The Wudang Sect

The Wudang sect and its schools are rivals of the Shaolin and the Emei, teaching a philosophy derived from the Tao. They are more fun-loving and less strict than the Shaolin and the Emei, and pride themselves on their worldliness - though they are no-less dangerous in a fight. The Wudang believe that only through experiencing the world can they truly rise above their baser natures and achieve enlightenment and immortality. They are the second largest sect in Tianxia.

The Wudang teach a combination of unarmed combat based on stability and gentleness, combat with the jian and the spear, and teh cultivation of one's neigong to completely master their body and their senses. They are loose with their requirements, and their members will happily drink and indulge their pleasures to excess. They train both men and women. They have a reputation for fun, honesty, and pride, but sometimes their membership appears careless, arrogant, and brusque.

The Huashan Sect

Hailing from a large temple atop Mount Hua, the Huashan are the premier swordsmen of the Pugilistic Community. They teach a philosophy of nobility and assistance to the needy and the desperate, and the defence of the weak. They frequently send their members out into the world to accomplish good deeds, which they believe is the key to spiritual fulfillment. They are the third largest sect in Tianxia.

The Huashan teach a combination of combat with the sabre and the cultivation of one's neigong to completely master their body and their senses. They are moderately strict, forbidding consumption of liquor and the opposite gender to excess - though a little is alright. They train both men and women. They have a repuation for honour, compassion, and enthusiasm, but sometimes their membership appears naive and overly sentimental.

The Kongtong Sect

The Kongtong are a sect that has adopted the outward practices of Orthodoxy but are loose with the "not cheating" bit. They teach a philosophy of strict moral justice and ethics, and adhere to it religiously. However, in combat, they are taught to use all options available to them, and train in ways that are considered Unorthodox to some. They are the fifth largest sect in Tianxia.

The Kongtong teach a combination of unarmed combat based on quick movements to disorient the opponent, combat with concealable weapons such as daggers, throwing knives, and acupuncture needles, and the cultivation of one's qinggong to move silently and stealthily. They are strict with moral actions and justice, but are more loose when it comes to one's individual social practices. They train both men and women. They have a reputation for honour, cunning, and justice, but sometimes their membership appears uncompassionate, rigid, and even unfair.

The Quanzhen Sect

The Quanzhen are a Taoist sect that has adopted the principle of Wu Wei, activity through inaction. Their philosophy emphasises balance, internal meditation, and understanding when not to act. They also focus heavily on the use of alchemical elixers to help achieve immorality. They are the sixth largest sect in Tianxia.

The Quanzhen teach a combination of unarmed combat based on stability and using an opponents' strength against themselves, combat with the spear and the quarterstaff, and the cultivation of one's neigong to completely master their movements and their senses. They are strict with their moral practices, but believe that many things will sort themselves out with time and do not strongly encourage intervention in the secular world. They train both men and women. They have a reputation for fairness, common-sense, and wisdom, but sometimes their membership appears uncompassionate, vaccilating, and even lazy.

The Kunlun Sect

The Kunlun are a sect which some argue is primarily concerned with promotion. Their philosophy heavily emphasises loyalty to the school and its aggrandisement. Many whisper that the leadership of the Kunlun seek to become the largest, most powerful school in the Pugilistic Community and will stop at nothing to achieve it. They are the seventh largest sect in Tianxia.

The Kunlun teach a combination of unarmed combat based on strength and stability, combat with the sabre, and the cultivation of one's qinggong to achieve great feats of physical strength. They are strict with all their practices, believing that total control of their feelings and emotions are the key to success in the Pugilistic Community, to the point that they will expell students who fraternise with Unorthodox pugilists. They train both men and women. They have a reputation for eagerness, strength, and cunning, but sometimes their membership appears overly ambitious, vain, and even arrogant.

The Beggars Sect

The Beggars are a strange sect, that some would call Unorthodox and some would call not a sect at all. They are included in the Great Eight Sects both in speech and in deed due to their uncompromising defence of Tianxia against foreign encroachment - indeed some whisper that the Beggars are the backbone of Tian resistance against the Wokou. The Beggars have always treated the Treaty as more of a guideline, and while they do not flaunt it openly, they are sometimes... liberal... with its enforcement. They have escaped retribution thus far because their actions have always been against invaders and foreigners who have acted against Tianxia's interests, and thus the government was willing to tolerate them, but even now their confidence in the government is shaky. It is dubbed the Beggars because they recruit from among the poorest, most overlooked segments of society - nobody notices the Beggars, and thus they speak freely around them. They are the eighth largest sect in Tianxia.

The Beggars teach a combination of unarmed combat emphasising erratic movements and surprising their enemies (including the famed Drunken Monkey technique), combat with the quarterstaff, and cultivation of one's qinggong to accomplish incredible feats of movement. They are lose with their practices, requiring their members only to pledge to throw foreigners from Tianxia and do good for the poor and the needy. They train both men and women. They have a reputation for compassion, bravery, and cunning, but sometimes their membership appears erratic, unorthodox, and... well... dirty.

 

[JohannaK]

J, he is possibly a very handsome young lad we can get laid with after an awkward innuendo of sexual awakening.

 

[thomas.berubeg]

Option I. She's CUTE!

 

[Double A]

Clearly we should talk to both of them. My coin says I first.

 

[Grandkhan]

I wins.

You decide that you will approach the elegant young woman.

Just to be clear, you are approaching this woman with the intent of romance, right?

A: Uh, yeah? You are a sixteen year old boy, after all!

B: W-w-what? How could you suggest such a thing? She appears to be the very flower of nobility, and you would never dream of dishonouring her in such a way. Not without a lengthy period of courtship and her father's permission, anyway.

 

[Double A]

C: Talk to her before determining whether to to access pants or not.

 

[JohannaK]

B, of course. That we still don't know that we aren't into vaginas doesn't mean we think we are into vaginas.