You say, "Log on"

GM asks, "how're we doing? everyone here?"

K-Y arrives, looking for booty.

Liang says, "I am"

Feng says, "The world and its inhabitants are correctly situated relative to myself, yes."

Xiao-Li says, "I'm here!"

GM says, "awright"

[Crows-Nest] Xiao-Li says, "I guess this character should not have noexclaim set"

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "ha ha"

[Crows-Nest] Patience says, "Hee he"

[Crows-Nest] Patience says, "e"

GM says, "in that case, let us rock"

GM says, "as you recall, the four of you have been travelling to Only Six Devils, the city notorious for possessing all the rarest and most exotic items that have been looted from the battlefields of the world by its highly-trained mercenaries"

GM says, "here you can buy nearly anything -- ancient silks, even more ancient stones polished by the river-dragons for a thousand years, jade flutes hand-crafted by blind men who have spent their last 30 years working on them, sacrificing their sight and their health to make the tones as sweet as anything yet heard"

GM says, "and, specifically, the items that you have been seeking"

Feng says, "Mercenaries beware! Your vulnerable behinds will presently be kicked resoundingly!"

nothings arrives, looking for booty.

GM says, "travelling to Only Six Devils, the caravan the four of you were riding on was attacked by the one of the notorious bandit gangs in the area, and, during the fight, the four of you became fast friends and confessed your missions to each other, realizing that with this common ground you were best off sticking together"

[Crows-Nest] Xiao-Li asks, "*during* the fight?"

[Crows-Nest] Feng says, "Hee hee."

GM says, "because it is well-known that unless you are fabulously wealthy, only a band of Wulin can hope to be admitted to Prosperous Devil District and the splendors of the Ninefold Prosperity Pavilion"

[Crows-Nest] Xiao-Li says, "we really are kickass"

[Crows-Nest] Liang says, "they were little challenge"

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "yeah, that sounds pretty usual"

GM says, "...which holds the things you seek"

GM says, "but before you reach the serenity of Prosperous Devil District, you must travel through Unruly Devil District"

GM says, "which, you will not be surprised to hear, is possibly the most chaotic marketplace the world has seen"

GM says, "fishmongers sit side by side with fine jewellers next to blacksmiths and rice-wine salesmen, all bawling at the top of their lungs for you to inspect and/or buy their wares"

GM says, "but! you at last fight your way through the crowds, to see the flags of a pavilion tent -- or, rather, three pavilion tents -- set up outside the gates of Prosperous Devil District"

GM says, "which means that you are in luck, because three sponsors have come out from the district to seek a band of Wulin to admit to the district"

[Crows-Nest] Liang wipes the blood off his blade, leaving behind him a river of blood from beheaded peasa... wait

[Crows-Nest] Xiao-Li asks, "tsk tsk, you couldn't wait until we got in before you beserked?"

[Crows-Nest] Liang says, "HE said 'fight through the crowds'"

Feng asks, "Look, friends! Sponsors! I wonder which is the mightiest, and therefore perhaps worthy to employ us?"

Liang says, "I would not want to be employed by anyone who cares to employ me!"

Liang says, "but it appears there is no choice, so I agree"

GM says, "the three sponsors are in the midst of a polite but heated argument -- the soldier captain squabbles with the old-but-still-fine-looking courtier in the red dress who quarrels with the old sharp-eyed man"

Xiao-Li exclaims, "My, that fierce warrior looks trustworthy!"

GM says, "as you exit from the crowd, their quarrel stops, and they turn to look at you"

[Crows-Nest] Liang says, "must resist to use 'green ruby orbs'"

Patience says, "Ah, see how clever they are? Who buys fish but the women? And when buying fish, what must she be thinking of but the story of the gold coin in the fish's mouth? And in the story, the Emperor's daughter is described as wearing fantastic jewelry, and, lo! the jewelry seller is right there."

Feng says, "Keep thy womanly emotions in check, brave warrior-maiden!"

Xiao-Li bows to the sponsors.

GM says, "Ironhand Nan, master of the Sheathed-Blade Empty-Hand Prosperity Society, claps his hands. "At last! Someone worthy of the fight! Clearly this must be none other than Xiao-Li Pai and Feng Guo!""

Liang says (to Patience), "You know your stories well!"

[Crows-Nest] Feng says, "Too... many... exclamation marks!"

Liang bows as well.

Feng bows warily.

GM says, "Red Lotus Ling smirks to herself. "And yet you neglect Liang Shui, notorious courtier. I half-fear for my girls if I bring him inside.""

GM says, ""Fools!" says Razoreyes Gongsun, head of the Guild of Gentleman Appraisers. "Had you any discrimination, you would be first mentioning the name of Patience Meng!""

Patience bows.

GM says, ""Let us not quarrel," Red Lotus says. "Surely there is a better way to resolve this.""

Patience says, "But truly, there are four of us, and in any list must one come first."

Feng says, "Or, perhaps, two."

Liang says, "Unless you have four to speak the names simultaneously"

Patience exclaims, "Too true!"

Xiao-Li smiles demurely.

GM says, "She flashes a smile at Liang. "Truly you are as ingenious as you are courteous.""

GM says, "Then she gestures to the edge of the crowd (it has, almost without you noticing, pulled back to form a wide area), where two other bands of the Wulin stand."

Liang bows slightly again.

GM says, ""I perceive three bands of the Wulin, and three of us. Clearly a contest must occur to decide.""

Feng eyes narrow (even more).

[Crows-Nest] Feng says, "Feng's, even."

[Crows-Nest] Patience asks, "Remind me what 'Wulin' means, again?"

[Crows-Nest] Patience asks, "Are they mercenaries, or 'adventurers'?"

Feng asks, "What do you have in mind? A game of dice, perhaps, or cards?"

Xiao-Li says, "Yes, truly that is the most honourable way to decide - a battle to best display our martial talents."

GM says, "Ironhand Nan steps forward, and claps his hands. Three of his soldiers, struggling under the load, pull forth an enormous hammer and drop it on the ground."

Feng says, "Oh, a battle, that's fine."

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "Wulin is "the society of wuxia heros", basically"

GM says, "He points to Feng. "Now, throw this back to me!""

[rpg] GM says, "ok, so"

Feng says, "Well, I would not want to crush my sponsor."

[rpg] GM says, "this first bit is going to be a railroady intro scene where we learn about the skill the system"

Liang mutters, "That looks like it weighs a half-ton"

[rpg] GM says, "er, -the"

Feng says, "But if that is your wish."

[rpg] GM says, "the stuff I'm going to talk about is summarized at http://www.drizzle.com/~dans/rpg/wotg/mechanics.html"

Feng sizes up the hammer and tries to remember the rules.

[rpg] GM says, "this first thing is an example of a Lift check, which is a skill on your sheet under Might"

[rpg] GM says, "Feng has Might 5, and under that Lift 3 [throwing 1]"

Feng crackes his knucles, flexes forearms that would make Popeye jealous.

[rpg] GM says, "this means that he rolls 3 dice for Lift, +1 die when throwing things, and with a talent bonus of +1 because his Might (5) is higher than that total (4)"

[rpg] GM says, "er, higher or equal"

[rpg] GM says, "all the skills on your sheet get that +1 die bonus from talent unless it specifically says otherwise -- the calculation's already been done"

[rpg] GM says (to Feng), "so roll 5 dice"

[Crows-Nest] Feng says, "Man, Feng's spelling is terrible."

[rpg] GM says, "5d10, I should say"

[rpg] Feng says, "I guess in this situation I might want to figure out whether to spend some chi or whatever."

[rpg] GM says, "don't worry about it for right now"

[rpg] Feng says, "But I'll just roll, if I mess it up I can just beat the guy up."

Feng rolls 5 10-sided dice: 9 9 1 9 4| 32

[rpg] Feng says, "39!"

[rpg] Patience says, "Holy smokes"

[rpg] GM says, "ok, that's a great roll, because -- exactly"

[rpg] GM says, "as you guys recall, this works by forming sets"

[rpg] GM says, "so 3 9's = 39"

[rpg] nothings asks, "'recall'?"

[rpg] GM says, "and the difficulty is only 20, so assume you did something awesome"

[rpg] GM says (to nothings), "well, apparently they do, I'm not sure why"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says (to nothings), "discussed on #rpg before"

[rpg] GM says (to Feng), "and, er, say what you did, I guess"

[rpg] GM says, "or I can if you'd rather"

[rpg] Liang says, "I never saw the rules"

[rpg] GM exclaims, "ok then!"

Feng rubs his hands together.

Feng grips the hammer gently, gauges its weight.

[rpg] GM says, "the rule is, you find the best set and that's your score -- 1 8 is 18, 2 5's are 25"

Feng throws the hammer straight up, into the clouds!

[rpg] GM says, "typical difficulties are 20 for relatively easy things, or 30 for hard things"

[rpg] nothings says, "huh, 20 seems pretty easy to fail"

GM says, "Ironhand Nan looks up. "A mighty throw! But how is it to get back to me?""

Feng says (to Nan), "If I may suggest, step back a few paces and watch the sky."

[rpg] Jon asks, "hey, should I be muting?"

[rpg] Jon says, "since I'm playing tomorrow"

GM exclaims, "He does so, just as, with a whistling noise, the hammer plummets from the sky!"

[rpg] GM says, "yeah, probably"

[rpg] Jon says, "right, then"

GM says, "He reaches out and grabs it, his knees buckling and his feet sinking an inch or two into the ground."

Feng says (to Nan), "See! It comes!"

[rpg] Feng says, "Bah, lag."

Feng says (to Nan), "Well caught! I salute you!"

Feng bows.

[rpg] Liang says, "no, no. Bas-lag."

[rpg] nothings says, "it seems like a 30% chance of failing 20 with 5 dice, if I didn't screw up the math"

GM says, "Razoreyes Gongsun similarly claps his hands, and two of his minions come out to blindfold Patience."

[rpg] Patience says, "That sounds high."

[rpg] nothings says, "yes!"

GM says, ""Now then," he says, "I will hurl these five prayer scrolls into the air, and you must catch each with your staff before they hit the ground.""

[rpg] GM says (to Patience), "ok, your turn -- this is a Senses (hearing) check"

[rpg] Patience says, "there's only a 33% chance that the last die will fail to match any of the others."

Feng mutters, "Impossible!"

[rpg] GM says, "(with difficulty 20)"

[rpg] nothings says, "oh, you mean sounds wrong for the situation? well, it's a birthday paradox sort of thing, so you figure 50% is around 3 or 4 dice"

Feng asks, "Three, or perhaps four, yes -- but five??"

[rpg] nothings says (to Patience), "uh, no, there's 10 possible values and 4 are taken"

[rpg] Patience says, "No, it sounds like 30% is wrong."

[rpg] Liang says, "please take it to #math"

[rpg] Patience says, "Given that it's only 30% for the last die."

[rpg] Patience says, "er, 33."

[rpg] Liang says, "because this is a rpg, not a math lesson"

[rpg] Patience says, "But sure."

[rpg] GM says (to Patience), "ROLL"

[rpg] Patience asks, "Roll what?"

[rpg] Patience asks, "Hearing?"

[rpg] GM says, "yeah"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "yes"

Patience rolls 5 10-sided dice: 5 9 8 2 6| 30

[rpg] Feng says, "Owwwwww."

[rpg] Patience says, "aww."

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "well, 19 is only 1 short"

[rpg] Liang says, "98!"

GM says, "Patience sweeps up four of the scrolls with his staff, but just as he is about to grab the fifth, an errant duck escapes from its owner and snaps the scroll up with its beak"

Feng gasps!

Liang raises an eyebrow.

Liang says, "I suspect fowl play"

GM says, "Razoreyes Gongsun snaps an order to his servant to have the duck caught and cooked."

Patience says, "Ah, a 3-year old mallard from the Benshai province."

GM says, "Red Lotus Ling steps forward, some of her servants following with an inkwell, a fine pen dripping with ink, and two baskets of white petals"

GM says, "She hands the pen to Liang. "You must write the character for 'beauty' on each petal before they hit the ground, and the petals must land to form the character for 'wisdom'. Now!""

GM says, "She hurls the petals into the air"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "aw man"

[rpg] GM says, "ok, so this is a two-difficulty skill check with modifiers"

[rpg] Liang asks, "what do I roll?"

Feng says, "Bah, he always gets the easy task."

[rpg] GM says, "the way multiple difficulties are handled is, you roll once, and compare it to each"

[rpg] GM says, "so writing on each petal is difficulty 20, but arranging the petals into the character for wisdom is difficulty 30"

[rpg] Liang says, "ok..."

[rpg] GM says, "so you roll once, and if it hits 20 you do the first, and if it hits 30 you do the second"

[rpg] GM says, "but there are also modifiers"

[rpg] GM says, "the petals are moving (-5) and the ink is runny (-5) but the petals fall slowly (+5) and the brush is exceptionally fine (+10)"

[rpg] Liang says, "so +5 overall"

[rpg] GM says, "the way modifiers work is, you only take the worst negative and the best positive and forget the rest"

[rpg] Feng says, "Yeah, this'd be totally easier with solid ink."

[rpg] Patience says, "hee hee"

[rpg] GM says, "so one -5 and one +10, which still comes out to +5"

[rpg] Feng says, "They don't stack? Odd."

[rpg] Liang says, "ok..."

[rpg] GM says, "so roll Learning (Calligraphy) and try and get 30, or, with the bonus, you need 25"

[rpg] GM says (to Feng), "the intention is to encourage people not to over-specialize, basically"

[rpg] Feng says, "Oh, hmm."

[rpg] Liang says, "ok, so 3 for learning + 1 for calligraphy + 1 bonus"

[rpg] GM says, "exactly"

Liang rolls 5 10-sided dice: 2 5 4 9 7| 27

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "oof"

[rpg] Liang asks, "is that 19 too?"

[rpg] Patience says, "19+5"

[rpg] GM says, "yeah, plus -- right"

[rpg] GM says, "so you make the first difficulty but not the second"

[rpg] Liang says, "I guess nothings was right about the failure rate"

[rpg] Feng asks, "As a general thing, when and how much should we narrate what happens?"

GM says, "you carefully inscribe 'beauty' on each petal before it touches the ground, but unfortunately this so distracts you that when the petals touch the ground, you realize that they form the character for 'tea ceremony in springtime' rather than 'wisdom'"

[rpg] GM says, "I am happy to do it however -- the adventure provides interesting suggested failure messages for these tasks, so I am using those instead"

Liang says, "Wisdom springs from tea eternally, as the great prophet once said"

[rpg] GM says, "but if you guys want to narrate your own failures that is ok by me"

[rpg] Feng says, "Okay."

[rpg] Liang asks, "so 1 1 1 1 1 would be 51, right?"

[rpg] Patience says, "If you give us the initial failures/successes, we can figure out the tone better, I think."

Feng asks (of Patience), "Which prophet was that?"

Liang says, "Lapsong Souchong"

GM says, "Red Lotus hides a teasing smile with her fan as she steps back, and Ironhand Nan steps forward again, with an armfull of razor-tipped iron spears"

Liang says, "if you were asking me"

GM says, "He flings his arm out and they embed themselves into the ground, forming a bed of nails, only much, much taller"

Feng says, "I didn't want to interrupt you."

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "uh-oh"

Patience says, "Truly, Lapsong was on to something when he said that."

GM says, ""Xiao-Li Pao!" he calls"

GM says, ""Retrieve this arrow!""

GM says, "He fires a shot from the bow he is carrying, and an arrow streaks over the top of the spears, trailing a flag behind it"

[Crows-Nest] Liang says, "or at least ON something"

[rpg] Feng says, "I sense leaping may ensue here."

[rpg] GM says, "so this is a 20 difficulty to get onto the spears, 30 to catch the arrow, -5 to jump off spears and -5 for a wobbly arrow, but +5 for doing a two-stage jump (bouncing off the spears) and +10 for the arrow being slow because of the flag"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "so, 25"

[rpg] GM says, "so again, keep the worst and best, and it's the same as Liang's -- 20 (you need to roll a 15) and 30 (you need to roll a 25)"

[rpg] GM says, "and yeah, leaping"

Xiao-Li rolls 5 10-sided dice: 5 1 9 1 8| 24

[rpg] nothings asks, "so it just uses one skill for both even though the second task isn't really leaping-ish?"

[rpg] GM says (to nothings), "well, it's a leap and a grab, but yeah"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "arr, 21 +5"

[rpg] GM says, "nuts, so close"

[rpg] GM says, "well"

[rpg] nothings asks, "well, but does this generalize? like, if you were leaping and swinging a sword?"

[rpg] Liang says, "wait, 21"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "I am happy to fail as long as it doesn't mean I get impaled"

[rpg] Liang asks, "+5 is enough, isn't it?"

[rpg] Patience says, "For the first."

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "no, I need to get 25 without that +5"

GM says, "Xiao-Li leaps athletically up onto the spears, and then off again to snatch the arrow, but unfortunately her second leap sends one spear of the field toppling, making the jump slightly imperfect"

[rpg] Liang says, "yes, for the first"

[rpg] (from Feng) Liang says, "Okay, in this round of battle I'll take a two-stage action -- I'm going to compose a poem, and kill all the enemies. Let's see, 5 dice for Calligraphy, so..."

GM says, ""Still," says Ironhand Nan, as you hand the flag back. "An impressive performance!""

[rpg] GM says (to nothings), "I think the deal is you roll the skill that's most relevant to what you're doing"

[rpg] nothings says (to Feng), "heehee"

Xiao-Li bows, and humbly retreats to rejoin the group.

GM says, ""But what of the other Wulin bands?" snaps Razoreyes Gongsun."

GM says, "and the other bands have been busy toppling and smiting and singing things and so on"

GM says, ""Clearly more direct competition is called for here.""

Liang looks at someone crushed underneath a giant hammer

[rpg] Xiao-Li exclaims, "we suck!"

GM says (to Liang), "only a servant, luckily"

[rpg] Xiao-Li exclaims, "except feng!"

[rpg] GM says, "nah, these are all hard tasks"

[rpg] Feng says, "Aren't you lucky I'm the leader of our little band!"

[rpg] GM says, "and the point is you don't suck just for failing them, you almost succeed"

[rpg] Feng says, "At least, I am now! Rar!"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "yeah, I'm just amused"

GM says, "Ironhand Nan claps his hands yet again, and more of his servants appear, to push out a mighty statue of the Enchanted Demon carved from ice, and pull out a pile of the aforementioned Melon hammers Feng was just throwing"

Feng asks, "Perhaps I should throw the hammer at them?"

GM says, "along with the servants, one of the other competitors steps forward, a giant of a man dressed as a Zan monk"

GM says, ""Now then," Ironhand Nan says. "The winner is the first to shatter the head of the statue!""

[rpg] GM says, "ok, so"

[rpg] GM says, "this is a contest, which works the same way regardless of whether it's combat or what"

[rpg] Feng says, "Hurry up with the explanation, I'm currently poised motionless for battle with an exciting zooming background behind me."

[rpg] GM says, "the first thing we're going to do is roll initiative, and then the competitors will make difficulty 30 rolls to try and shatter the statue in order of initiative"

[rpg] GM says, "this is also going to involve the river"

[rpg] GM says, "quick tutorial on the river"

[rpg] GM says, "it's designed to make rolls easier"

[rpg] GM says, "you have 2 free slots to save rolls from earlier in the combat"

[rpg] GM says, "if you roll a set of 2 or more, you can move dice from it into the river"

[rpg] Feng says, "Now you tell me."

[rpg] GM says, "so if you roll, like, 5 5 7 7 1, you can keep the 7 7 for your roll and move the 5 5 into your river"

[rpg] Liang says, "how unlikely is THAT"

[rpg] GM says, "then later you roll 5 4 3 1 2, you can pull the 5 5 out for a set of 35"

[rpg] Feng asks, "If I roll 7 7 7 1 2, can I keep one of the 7s?"

[rpg] GM says, "yeah"

[rpg] GM says, "you don't have to move the whole set in"

[rpg] Patience asks, "I assume if you roll 5 5 7 7 1 you can also keep the 7s and use the 5s?"

[rpg] GM says, "yep"

[rpg] Patience asks, "How big is the river?"

[rpg] GM says (to Feng), "ok, so let's roll initiative; it's a skill, under Speed"

[rpg] GM says (to Patience), "2"

[rpg] GM says, "(this is listed on your sheet)"

[rpg] Patience asks, "Two dice or two sets?"

[rpg] GM says, "dice"

[rpg] Patience says, "Oh, so you can't save a set of 3 (for now)."

[rpg] Feng asks, "What does my 'initiative (palms)' mean? Is that my weapon?"

[rpg] GM says, "right"

[rpg] GM says, "initiative skill, and you get a bonus of +1 when using palms"

[rpg] Patience asks, "You have to save sets? You can't keep a 6 from one roll and another 6 from the next?"

[rpg] GM says, "which isn't the case here, since you're using hammers"

[rpg] Feng asks, "Palms as in hands?"

[rpg] nothings asks, "wait, why can't you save a set of 3?"

[rpg] Feng says, "Okay."

[rpg] GM says, "right"

[rpg] GM says (to nothings), "because your river only holds 2 dice"

[rpg] nothings says, "oh, 2 free slots, ok"

[rpg] GM says (to Patience), "you can, as long as the 6s come from sets of 2 or more"

[rpg] GM says, "you can't move a die into the river unless it's part of a set"

[rpg] Patience says, "Gotcha."

[rpg] GM says (to Feng), "so roll 4d10 for initiative (3 skill +1 bonus)"

[rpg] Feng says, "It seems like the river is going to apply pretty randomly."

[rpg] Patience says, "OK, I have 'advice 1' under initiative."

Feng rolls 4 10-sided dice: 1 5 6 4| 16

Feng says, "Crap! Bullet-time!"

[rpg] Patience asks, "Can I advise my comrades for this?"

GM says, "and here is your opponent, Mountain Chung"

[rpg] GM says (to Patience), "let's save that for the last part of the tutorial, which is more of a free for all"

GM rolls 4 10-sided dice: 1 3 4 3| 11

[rpg] Patience says, "OK."

[rpg] Feng says, "Slower than the man mountain, dammit."

Liang says, "these aren't 10-sided, they're twice 5-sided"

GM says, "I think he'll move one of the 3s into his river"

GM says, "so he'll have an initiative of 14"

[rpg] Patience asks, "Why not both 3's?"

[rpg] GM says, "his river isn't as large"

[rpg] Patience says, "Oh, heh."

[rpg] GM says, "all those steroids"

[rpg] Feng asks, "Can you discard from the river at any time?"

[rpg] GM says, "yeah"

[rpg] GM says, "the order is actually "discard, move into, move out of""

[rpg] GM says, "which is occasionally important"

GM says (to Feng), "so, you get initiative -- throw that hammer"

Feng snatches up a hammer, spins round 30 or 40 times, and throws it at the statue's head!

[rpg] Feng asks, "Still 5 dice, right?"

[rpg] GM says, "yeah, difficulty 30"

Feng rolls 5 10-sided dice: 2 5 9 3 1| 20

Feng throws the hammer directly up into the sky again!

Feng says, "Oh, oops!"

GM exclaims, "Mountain Chung lumbers forward, meanwhile, and picks up and hurls a hammer!"

Feng says, "Forgot to change my grip!"

GM rolls 5 10-sided dice: 1 5 9 8 7| 30

GM says, "He throws his hammer, and it's about to collide with the statue's head, when Feng's hammer drops from the sky and knocks it off-course"

[Crows-Nest] Liang says, "I hope hammer and antihammer annihilate each other now"

GM says, ""Rar!" he says"

Feng meanwhile adjusts his stance to throw at the correct angle.

[rpg] GM says, "ok, next round, initiative again"

GM rolls 4 10-sided dice: 6 1 6 9| 22

Feng rolls 4 10-sided dice: 6 3 8 9| 26

GM says, "Mountain Chung will take the 26 this time, and go first, still with a 3 in his river"

[rpg] nothings says, "seems like initiative is just an excuse to fill your river"

Feng carefully adjusts his shoes.

GM rolls 5 10-sided dice: 9 9 10 6 8| 42

[rpg] Liang says, "for a superhero RPG, one sure fails constantly"

[rpg] Liang asks, "is that 110?"

Feng tosses a tuft of grass into the air.

[rpg] nothings says, "heehee"

Feng rolls 5 10-sided dice: 6 1 3 1 1| 12

Feng says, "HYAAAAA"

Feng says, "RNG"

[rpg] Patience asks, "What *is* a ten in this?"

Feng says, "..."

[rpg] nothings says, "0, presumably"

[rpg] GM says, "oh, good point -- tens are 0s, yeah"

[rpg] nothings says, "and I agree with Feng, hooray for the RNG"

Feng nods in satisfaction as the hammer flies true to its target!

GM says, "Mountain Chung's hammer is again hurtling towards the statue, when Feng's hammer actually overtakes it, and smashes the statue in the face, exploding it into a thousand ice shards"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "ha ha ha ha ha"

GM says, "Mountain Chung roars again, and stomps the ground, shaking it like an earthquake before he stomps off to join his comrades."

Feng says (to Chung), "Well played!"

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

GM says, ""Now, before we make the final decision," Ironhand Nan, "There is just one trial left""

GM says, "uh, says"

GM exclaims, "Tired of clapping, he blows a whistle hanging around his neck, and soldiers charge from the tent, waving swords!"

GM says, ""The field of battle!""

[rpg] GM says, "ok, so"

Feng, not intending to be caught out twice, remembers to switch to the 'ass-kicking' stance.

[rpg] GM says, "this is an example of combat against no-name dudes"

[rpg] GM says, "the first thing we do is everyone rolls initiative"

[rpg] GM says, "these guys are lame and have an initiative of 15"

Xiao-Li draws her sword

[rpg] Feng says, "It's the Hopping Swordsmen Gang!"

[rpg] Patience asks, "Can I do my advice thing here?"

[rpg] Feng says, "Oh, not that kind of lame."

[rpg] GM says, "ha ha ha"

[rpg] GM says, "that is awesome"

[rpg] GM says (to Patience), "sure, although I believe you can do it only once per round, so you may want to save it"

[rpg] GM says, "(since you're probably going to win initiative anyway)"

[rpg] Patience asks, "What's a round?"

[rpg] Alex says (to Patience), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that the world is round."

[rpg] Liang says, "I have no actual 'initiative' skill that I can see"

[rpg] GM says, "everyone acting once or twice"

[rpg] Xiao-Li asks, "okay, so roll initiative?"

[rpg] GM says, "ok, initiative is a skill under speed -- if you don't have it, you roll one die"

[rpg] GM says, "(ie, skill 0 + bonus die from attribute)"

[rpg] Liang says, "I have | Kung Fu and Extraordinary Techniques Weapon Initiative Attack"

[rpg] GM says, "oh yes"

[rpg] GM says, "that is your initiative bonus"

[rpg] GM says, "so add that to what you roll"

[rpg] Liang asks, "what, 1d + 15?"

[rpg] GM says, "oh, I see, it summarizes the whole"

[rpg] GM says, "thing"

[rpg] GM says (to Liang), "looks like it, yeah"

[rpg] GM says, "whereas Xiao rolls 4d10 + 5 with her sword"

[rpg] Liang says, "this seems to have been a table that doesn't really work in the browser"

[rpg] Xiao-Li asks, "I have two different ones, so I get to choose between sword and kick, right?"

Liang rolls 1 10-sided die: 8| 8 + 15 = 23

[rpg] GM says, "right"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "(I'll use sword, but I was checking)"

[rpg] GM says, "yeah"

Xiao-Li rolls 4 10-sided dice: 4 1 3 9| 17

[rpg] Feng asks, "My strategy guide says I should be using some funky technique, when do I decide that?"

Patience rolls 3 10-sided dice: 3 1 10| 14

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "after rolling initiative, I guess"

[rpg] Liang says, "yeah, same here"

Feng rolls 5 10-sided dice: 10 3 2 10 6| 31

[rpg] Feng says, "5d + 15 regardless, though, it says."

[rpg] GM exclaims, "ok, so!"

[rpg] GM asks (of Feng), "do you want to put those 10s into your river, or use them for initiative?"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "(Iain went afk)"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "(and back)"

[rpg] Patience says, "I say store 'em."

[rpg] Feng asks, "If I put both 10s in, can I use both in any roll?"

[rpg] Feng asks, "Like, to get a free 20?"

[rpg] Feng says, "Free 30, even."

[rpg] GM says, "yep"

[rpg] Feng says, "Okay, I'll do that."

[rpg] GM says, "Liang has 23 initiative, Xiao has 34, Patience has 13 or 28, Feng has, uh, something"

[rpg] GM says, "31, I guess"

[rpg] GM asks (of Patience), "are you kicking or using your staff?"

[rpg] Patience asks, "28?"

[rpg] Patience says, "Oh, hmm."

[rpg] GM says, "13 + 15 if you kick, or 13 if you don't"

[rpg] Xiao-Li asks, "the 10s are 0, right?"

[rpg] GM says, "yeah"

[rpg] Feng says, "2x10 in my river, initiative 16."

[rpg] Feng says, "2x0, then."

[rpg] GM says, "it doesn't actually matter much what you do against these guys weapon-wise"

[rpg] Patience asks, "Oh, kick gets plus to initiative, staff gets plus to attack?"

[rpg] GM says, "right"

[rpg] Feng says, "Oops, 16+15, 31 initiative."

GM exclaims, "in any case, Xiao goes first!"

GM says, "so let's see some crazy kung-fu stuff"

Xiao-Li says, "Haaaaaaaai-ya"

[rpg] Patience asks, "Can I use the attack bonus to attack multiple people or something?"

Feng says, "But first, a song."

[rpg] GM says, "oh, yeah"

[rpg] GM says, "in this case, there are 5 minions attacking each of you"

[rpg] Feng asks, "How many dudes are there here?"

[rpg] GM says, "and they're treated as a group"

[rpg] Feng says, "Aha."

[rpg] GM says, "so you automatically attack multiple people"

[rpg] GM says, "if you want to attack multiple named people, you can do it by spending Chi"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "right, so I am going to do some ass-kicking, hopefully"

[rpg] GM asks, "ok, do you want to use some Kung Fu?"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "sure"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "it seems I should use Soaring Blade"

[rpg] GM says, "alrighty"

[rpg] Liang asks, "where does chi come from?"

[rpg] GM says, "so action-wise, each round you can do one full action (an attack) and two free actions (moving, talking, jumping off stuff, some other stuff)"

[rpg] GM says, "your Chi pool is equal to your attribute"

[rpg] GM says, "so Xiao has 4 silver chi to power this with"

[rpg] GM says, "so she's down to 3 after using soaring blader"

[rpg] GM says, "but you regain one of each color each round automatically"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "(I regain... aha, yay, I read the rules right)"

[rpg] Liang says, "ew, soaring bladder"

[rpg] GM says, "so! you get 5d10 + 15 + 10"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "okay"

GM says, "meanwhile, their defense:"

GM rolls 3 10-sided dice: 6 7 4| 17

GM says, "(17) + 8 = 25"

Xiao-Li rolls 5 10-sided dice: 3 6 9 5 1| 24

[rpg] Patience says, "So you should almost always use something that costs 1, if you have one full color."

[rpg] GM says, "yes"

[rpg] GM says, "so you get 1 damage die, plus 1 for each 5 full points you beat their defense by"

Xiao-Li says, "19 +25"

[rpg] GM says, "ok, so 19 = 3 full 5s"

[rpg] GM says, "so you would roll 4 dice for damage"

[rpg] Xiao-Li asks, "so, 4d10?"

Xiao-Li rolls 4 10-sided dice: 6 8 1 1| 16

[rpg] GM says, "...but against mooks, that's one die = takes out one person"

[rpg] Xiao-Li exclaims, "doh!"

[rpg] GM says, "so feel free to narrate slashing through four people (or knocking them out or whatever you want)"

[rpg] GM says, "(leaving, I shold remind you, only one guy left)"

Xiao-Li leaps and spins like a graceful whirlwind of death, righteously smiting all but one of the unworthy foes.

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

[rpg] GM says, "ok, Feng next"

Liang looks exasperated,

[rpg] Feng says, "I guess I'll use the Living Weapon technique as suggested by my cheatsheet!"

[rpg] GM exclaims, "brilliant!"

Xiao-Li exclaims, "I left one for the rest of you to play with!"

Xiao-Li exclaims, "I'm not *too* greedy!"

[rpg] Feng asks, "I assume I can only use one technique at a time?"

[rpg] GM says, "you can use as many techniques as you want in a round"

[rpg] GM says, "but 1) you can't use the same technique twice in a round and 2) some techniques don't stack"

[rpg] Feng says, "So, er, can I use Quick Rip also -- aha, probably doesn't stack."

[rpg] GM says, "no, it does, the strategy clarifies"

[rpg] GM | Because it changes the statistics of your Palms rather than adding to them, you can still add modifiers to those statistics, so you should use Quick Rip to enhance your attacks whenever you can.

[rpg] GM says, "oh, whoops, misread, but the last sentence says it does, so"

[rpg] Patience says, "I believe there were five guys attacking each of us."

[rpg] GM says, "yeah"

Feng says, "Guards, beware! These fists are as hard as granite! Which is pretty hard stuff, let me tell you!"

[rpg] Feng says, "Okay, now I totally don't understand."

[rpg] GM says, "they stack, that's the short version"

[rpg] Feng asks, "How would Quick Rip stack up, then?"

[rpg] GM says, "it adds +10 to your strike"

[rpg] nothings says, "don't you only get one attack per round anyway? (re: the technique limitation)"

[rpg] GM says, "and, uh, +5 damage and +1 die damage"

[rpg] GM says (to nothings), "yeah, normally"

Feng says, "Also, not only as they as hard as granite, they are as keen as sharpened steel!"

[rpg] GM says, "awesome"

Feng rolls 5 10-sided dice: 2 2 2 5 9| 20

[rpg] GM says, "whoo-ee"

[rpg] GM asks, "ok, so 32, +5, +10?"

[rpg] nothings asks, "why +5 ?"

[rpg] Feng asks, "Is the defence still 25?"

[rpg] GM says, "+5 from living weapon, +10 from quick rip"

[rpg] GM says, "oh yeah"

GM rolls 3 10-sided dice: 7 3 5| 15

GM says, "17 + 8 = 25"

[rpg] nothings asks, "do those accumulate or is it only best/worst mods?"

[rpg] GM says (to nothings), "the stacking rules are a little complicated, but in this case they stack"

[rpg] Feng says, "22 over, so I guess I take out all five."

[rpg] GM says, "woot"

[rpg] GM says, "plus you get a bonus damage die from quick rip anyway"

[rpg] Xiao-Li exclaims, "he could take down my spare one!"

Feng is feeling left-handed today, so with his right hand he merely knocks two guards' heads together! (Feng has a surprisingly wide grip.)

[rpg] Liang says, "ok"

Feng punches the other guards down one-by-one with his left hand, knocking three holes in a nearby wall.

Ghogg arrives, looking for booty.

GM says, "one goes flying into the remainder of the ice statue, which falls, sending ice shards everywhere"

[rpg] Liang says, "my cheat sheet says I suck in combar"

[rpg] Liang says, "combat"

[rpg] nothings says (to GM), "(also, when are you gonna explain the advising initiative bonus thing?)"

[rpg] GM exclaims, "well, it didn't come up yet!"

[rpg] GM says (to Liang), "yeah, but these are no-name guys"

[rpg] GM says (to Liang), "so you could just blow 3 gold chi on the threnody of torment"

[rpg] Feng says, "ha ha ha"

[rpg] GM says, "as it were"

[rpg] Liang says, "that was my thought"

[rpg] GM says, "ok, so this says you roll 5d10 for performance"

Liang reaches into his gowns and pulls out a flute

Feng raises an eyebrow.

GM says, "Liang's guards look at each other a little quizzically"

[rpg] Liang asks, "just 5d10?"

GM says, "They circle around him, closing in with their swords"

[rpg] GM says, "apparently so"

Liang rolls 5 10-sided dice: 3 4 1 8 10| 26

Xiao-Li delicately plugs her ears.

GM rolls 3 10-sided dice: 1 5 5| 11

Feng asks, "Not... the Mysterious Congress of the Emperor's Favourite Flute?"

Feng says, "Oh, I see, just the Threnody of Torment."

[rpg] Liang asks, "ok, now what?"

[rpg] GM says, "oops, ok, I see, that was probably bad advice from me -- since you don't get a bonus, you're supposed to save it til you have something in your river, like the strategy said"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "oh dear"

[rpg] GM says, "since you get an 18, which is good, but they get a 25 + 8 = 33, which is better"

GM says, "You play a sharp blast and the guards yipe and cover their ears."

[rpg] Feng says, "Threnody of Peeving."

[rpg] GM says, "but are not otherwise bothered"

[rpg] GM says, "probably a smart thing would be to use Moon Covered by Clouds kung fu now"

[rpg] GM says, "so they'll have a -10 to attack you"

[rpg] Liang says, "sure"

[rpg] GM exclaims, "ok then!"

[rpg] GM says, "I guess I will roll for them now, even"

Liang uses the ensuing confusion to ... disappear?

GM rolls 5 10-sided dice: 4 1 3 3 8| 19

GM says, "23 + 8 -10 from Liang's technique"

GM says, "= 21"

[rpg] Feng says, "Yikes, 21."

[rpg] GM says (to Liang), "ok, so you can roll 5d10 to dodge that"

[rpg] Liang says, "I so don't get this system"

Liang rolls 5 10-sided dice: 7 10 5 3 1| 26

[rpg] GM says, "ok, so you get 17, which is 4 under their 21, so they do one die of damage against you"

[rpg] Feng says, "I think it would be a lot simpler with physical dice that we can grab and put on the spot on the table that represents our river, etc."

GM rolls 1 10-sided die: 6| 6

GM says, "(16)"

[rpg] nothings says, "ah, I see, you can combine techniques in a single action"

[rpg] GM says (to Liang), "ok, now, the last bit for you to roll is sucking up the damage"

[rpg] GM says (to Liang), "you have this Chi Aura thing you can use -- roll 2 dice"

Liang rolls 2 10-sided dice: 8 5| 13

[rpg] GM says, "ok, so you get an 18"

GM says, "So one of the guards manages to get to his sword despite the clouds of mist and the flute blast and slash at Liang, but Liang's Chi blasts back, knocking the sword away"

[rpg] GM says, "now, Patience"

[rpg] Patience says, "OK, so."

[rpg] Patience says, "If I say I'm using my kick, I get to go first."

[rpg] GM says, "alrighty"

[rpg] Patience asks, "Do I then have to actually kick somebody?"

[rpg] GM says, "I am afraid so"

[rpg] Patience asks, "Or can I use one of my Extraordinary Daoist Spells?"

[rpg] GM says, "or the minions are afraid so, anyway"

[rpg] Patience says, "Hee"

[rpg] GM says, "yeah, you have to actually kick someone to get the kick initiative bonus"

[rpg] Feng says, "Kick Feng if you want, he can probably take it."

[rpg] GM says, "(also, shortly after this we'll have another combat, so don't sweat not getting to use all your powers now0"

[rpg] Patience says, "So the likely thing to do is use the Earthly Spirit or Heavenly Deity thing."

[rpg] GM says, "yeah, probably"

[rpg] Liang says, "or me, for just wasting 75% of my chi for nothing"

[rpg] nothings says, "the god of wind kicks give you bonus dice, and the -5 damage penalty doesn't apply to mooks"

[rpg] GM says, "good point"

[rpg] GM says, "(I guess, rereading this, you could have used God of Wind Kung Fu *before* initiative and got a +10 bonus to initiative)"

[rpg] Patience asks, "Oh, is that Speed?"

[rpg] GM says, "I think it must be, yeah"

[rpg] Patience asks, "Oh, so if I use that Kung Fu, I get the bonus to initiative, but don't have to actually kick?"

[rpg] GM says, "no, you do"

[rpg] Patience says, "OK."

[rpg] nothings says, "so really, initiative here is very different from elsewhere, since you have to decide what you're doing first"

[rpg] GM says, "yeah"

[rpg] Patience asks, "As a final rules thing, can you esplain the [advice +1] thing scattered over my sheet?"

[rpg] GM says, "that's a skill specialization bonus"

[rpg] GM says, "you get an extra die"

[rpg] GM says, "(when doing a skill check related to advice)"

[rpg] GM says (to Patience), "so if you're kicking, you roll 4d10 + 5"

[rpg] Patience says, "That sounds like it always applies to my initiative, then."

[rpg] GM says (to Patience), "I don't think so, but let's hash that out after this"

[rpg] Patience says, "Er, hmm."

[rpg] nothings says, "so if somebody asks for advice and you're competing with someone else to give advice first that applies? that seems... of limited applicability"

[rpg] Patience says, "OK."

[rpg] GM asks, "do you want to kick them or do you want to use a daoist technique?"

[rpg] Patience asks, "If I use my daoist technique, they go first and I have to defend?"

[rpg] GM says, "yeah"

[rpg] Patience says, "Hmm, I guess I'll go ahead and do that anyway."

[rpg] GM asks, "ok, which one?"

[rpg] Patience says, "Sheltering Water."

[rpg] GM says, "ok, roll learning (4 dice)"

Patience rolls 4 10-sided dice: 9 2 10 1| 22

[rpg] Patience says, "grar"

[rpg] GM says, "and if you don't want to move, you can pace it out and get a +5"

[rpg] Patience says, "Oh, hey, I do that ;-)"

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

[rpg] GM exclaims, "ok then!"

[rpg] Patience says, "But they go first before I get to do that, I believe."

[rpg] GM says, "ok then"

[rpg] GM asks, "do you want to spend a silver chi to use the first Waves like Water and give them a -10 to hit?"

GM rolls 5 10-sided dice: 9 1 5 9 7| 31

[rpg] Patience says, "Er, I don't see that."

[rpg] Patience asks, "Which one was that?"

[rpg] GM says, "it's the first power of your last kung fu"

[rpg] GM says, "right above the daoist spells"

[rpg] GM exclaims, "oh, whoops!"

[rpg] GM says, "sorry, I misread"

[rpg] Patience says, "That modifies my opponent's... right."

[rpg] GM says, "ok then"

GM says, "so they get 29 + 8 = 37"

[rpg] GM says, "which you can block with your staff, I guess -- 4d10 + 15"

Patience rolls 4 10-sided dice: 4 6 5 4| 19

[rpg] Patience says, "Whew."

[rpg] GM says, "good deal"

GM says, "ok, so you expertly ward them off while tracing out the proper daoist path of the elements"

Patience's staff spins around and around him, blurring his outline and deflecting the guard's swords. Suddenly, it stops--and Patience is gone!

[rpg] GM says, "awesome"

[rpg] GM says, "and this is just supposed to be a taste of things, so I think I'm going to cut this first scene here"

GM says, "Ironhand Nan blows a second blast on his whistle, and the soldiers who are still on their feet stop fighting and bow (to thin air, in the case of those by Patience)."

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "sure, go ahead"

GM says, "They drag their unconscious comrades back into the tent, and the three sponsors confer, as the crowd cheers and applauds and hoots."

GM says, "possibly also whistling"

[rpg] Feng says, "That one guy fighting Xiao-Li looks particularly relieved."

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

[rpg] GM says, "ok, so"

[rpg] GM says, "if you check out the lower third of http://www.drizzle.com/~dans/rpg/wotg/loresheet.html, it lists the three sponsors"

[rpg] Xiao-Li asks, "if we pick red lotus, do the guys have to dress up as girls?"

[rpg] nothings says, "I guess the failure rate is reasonable since it's a near success and it fits the vibe of lots of dramatic actions that are successfully countered (or otherwise don't actually payoff), hence prolonging the scene"

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "because I would be all in favour of that"

[rpg] GM says (to nothings), "well, we haven't seen it here, but I believe it's actually intentional -- you fail at first and then build up your river and do something dramatic in later rounds"

[rpg] GM says, "(some characters need to rely on this less, natch)"

[rpg] GM says (to Xiao-Li), "that is not part of the rules but I would certainly have no objection"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "muahaha"

[rpg] Liang says, "I am not very happy with this system"

[rpg] Xiao-Li asks, "can I spend some destiny to *make* it happen?"

[rpg] Feng asks, "So wait, are we picking a sponsor now?"

[rpg] GM says, "yeah"

[rpg] nothings says (to GM), "yeah, that the river imparts a dramatic arc makes sense"

[rpg] GM says (to Liang), "yeah, I'm afraid you've got the toughest character mechanically -- I didn't really realize this beforehand"

[rpg] Patience says, "I have no particular preference--Red Lotus would be fine."

Feng says, "Hmm, I see no challenge in fending off Ironhand's minions if necessary, so perhaps we should ally ourselves with one of the subtler sponsors."

[rpg] GM says, "(for what it's worth, my opinion is that Ironhand Nan's mission is the least interesting of the three)"

[rpg] Patience exclaims, "That's worth a lot!"

[rpg] Feng says, "Oh, okay, let's go drag ourselves up."

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

[rpg] GM says, "ok then"

[rpg] GM asks, "so, while we're talking, what item and what destiny would everyone like?"

[rpg] GM says, "Xiao had claimed the dress, I believe"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "wedding dress, jade destiny"

[rpg] Patience says, "I might go for the Porcelain Maid."

[rpg] GM asks, "and which motivation for getting it?"

[rpg] nothings asks, "are the cheaper ones harder or something?"

[rpg] Patience says, "I'm not sure how important these destiny points are for later."

[rpg] Liang says, "statue, someone-close-to-me"

[rpg] GM says, "the motivations give you a bonus to rolls for the more expensive ones"

[rpg] GM says, "that's the only mechanical/plot difference"

[rpg] GM says, "the treasures are harder to get or more inconvenient for the cheaper ones"

[rpg] Xiao-Li asks, "should we explain our motivations?"

[rpg] Patience asks, "The more expensive ones are easier?"

[rpg] GM says, "right"

[rpg] Patience says, "Oh, the maid sounds less interesting, then."

[rpg] Feng says, "I can't yet tell what difference it makes, so let's say I'm after the Wind Monkey."

[rpg] Feng says, "Because I can!"

[rpg] Liang says, "actually, unless it bothers you too much, I think I'm going to bow out here"

[rpg] GM says, "oh dear"

[rpg] Feng says, "I guess this is the Earth destiny."

[rpg] Liang says, "unless this is a big problem"

[rpg] Patience says, "I'll take the Mirror with a Jade destiny."

[rpg] Feng says, "I have heard that this monkey is awesome and so it is only fitting that I should acquire it to demonstrate my awesomeness."

[rpg] Xiao-Li asks, "maybe nothings or ghogg would like to step in?"

[rpg] GM says (to Liang), "um, if you're totally not having fun or are falling asleep, I don't want to keep you"

[rpg] Liang says, "well, so far what I did was fail, wait around for 45 minutes, and fail spectacularly"

[rpg] GM says, "but this scene is built around having a Courtier, so we should probably switch if you want to skip out"

[rpg] Liang says, "so, no, not really"

[rpg] GM says, "yeah, um, I'm not sure"

[rpg] GM says, "I hope now that we've had an intro to the system things will go faster"

[rpg] Liang says, "ok, if there're no other takers and you need me I'll stay"

[rpg] nothings says, "I'm not really up to RPing someone like a courtier, although I can deal with the game-mechanical aspects"

[rpg] Liang says, "just let me nip out for fifteen and get dinner"

[rpg] GM says, "hrm"

[rpg] GM says, "ok, I'll run you NPC for a while"

[rpg] Ghogg says, "I can do it"

[rpg] GM says, "and if you're interested in stepping in, we'll do that"

[rpg] GM says, "there we go"

[rpg] Liang says, "Ah here we go"

GM says, "ok then"

[rpg] Liang says, "cheers Ghogg"

[rpg] Liang says, "http://www.drizzle.com/~dans/rpg/wotg/liang.html is you now"

GM says, "Red Lotus Ling snaps her fan shut decisively as the last soldier exits the field."

[rpg] InnocentBystander says, "(and the name is free)"

GM says, ""An amusing demonstration," she says, "But I have already made my choice.""

GM says, "and shortly thereafter the four of you are walking through the gates of Propsperous Devil District"

GM says, "as you step through, sweepers rush out with brooms to banish the dust of Unruly Devil District back to where it came before slamming the gates shut again"

GM says, "and, indeed, it's like stepping into a different world -- Prosperous Devil District is green and lush in the middle of a city on the edge of the desert"

[rpg] Feng asks, "This last section of the lore sheet -- is this stuff we can spend points on at any time?"

GM says, "it's laid out like a public park, with wide lanes, lakes, grassy areas"

[rpg] GM says, "yep"

[rpg] GM says, "Xiao is spending some destiny to agitate for drag later on"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "damn right I am"

GM says, "Red Lotus's Academy for Righteous Young Women is located around a lake itself"

[rpg] nothings asks, "is that via 'random good luck befalls you'?"

[rpg] Feng asks, "Storme tells me that I just have 5 destiny points and all the different types like 'victory', 'fortune' are not really meaningful. Is that right?"

GM says, "and the girls bow respectfully as they pass you although occasionally you hear a giggle as they turn away"

[rpg] GM says, "that is correct"

[rpg] GM says, "but you spend some destiny points on the item and motivation, unless you're paying 0 for those"

GM says, "meanwhile, Red Lotus takes you to her private quarters"

[rpg] Feng says, "I think I spent 0 on both."

GM says, ""I understand you have each come to the markets in search of something particular?" she inquires."

[Crows-Nest] Liang asks, "lemme just ask here real quick: who is where?"

Feng thinks furiously, "What lush and sybaritic private quarters this woman has! This is clearly a trap!"

Xiao-Li says, "yes, indeed, most honorable hostess."

Liang preens himself.

Feng says, "My lady, I make no secret of my quest -- I believe that only I can tame the fabled Wind Monkey!"

GM says, ""Out of curiosity, might I ask..?""

[Crows-Nest] InnocentBystander asks, "'sybaritic'?"

Feng says, "With my, you know, ability to punch things really hard!"

Xiao-Li exclaims, "I myself come in search of a fabled gown, said to have been worn by the great Lady Zhou herself on her wedding day!"

[Crows-Nest] Xiao-Li says, "'from sybaris'"

GM says, "She raises an eyebrow. "I am sure one of your strength will have no difficulty performing such a mighty task.""

[Crows-Nest] Xiao-Li says, "basically, hedonistic"

GM says (to Patience), ""And you?" she asks."

[Crows-Nest] Xiao-Li asks (of liang), "who is where what, incidentally?"

Patience says, "As for myself, my old teacher lies wasting of some terrible disease on his mountaintop retreat. My studies have shown that the Emperor once knew how to cure this disease, but that knowledge has been lost. I seek the Mirror of Ying Zheng to uncover that mystery once again."

[Crows-Nest] Liang says, "inky's filled me in a little"

[Crows-Nest] Feng says, "We're all in prosperous district, to be given a mission or something by Red Lotus."

[rpg] GM says (to Patience), "excellent"

Feng says, "Gee, that's really good."

Feng says, "I just read about the Wind Monkey and thought it sounded awesome."

[rpg] GM says, "ha ha ha"

[Crows-Nest] InnocentBystander says, "you just like a monkey"

Feng says, "Er, I mean, interesting and philosophically significant."

[Crows-Nest] Liang asks, "Are we all inventing separate reasons we're here? Are we just supposed to be posing as a group of convience?"

Xiao-Li says, "I wish to wed into a position of power where I can humbly attempt to better society"

Patience says, "I was going to try for the Wind Monkey myself, until I discovered you were after it."

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "you are all comrades in arms, picking items off http://www.drizzle.com/~dans/rpg/wotg/loresheet.html"

[Crows-Nest] Feng says, "We all travelled here separately and met on the way."

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "but in the interests of time I will pick one for you, I think"

Feng asks (of Patience), "Wrestle you for it?"

GM says (to Liang), ""And I believe you had said you were after the Marvellously Inappropriate Censor -- truly I am sure one of your talents will find something .. appropriate to do with it""

Patience looks at Feng. "Let's just say you won, and leave it at that."

GM says, ""Well," Red Lotus says, "I will be pleased to assist you in your quest -- accompanying my groups of girls to the market, it will be easy for you to make your way to the merchants who possess the items you seek""

GM says, ""And howsoever you choose to pay -- or not pay -- for them, it is no concern of mine," she adds."

GM says, ""But first, I thought perhaps you might assist me with a problem of my own.""

Liang smiles courteously. "I can find uses for anything, given circumstance."

Feng asks, "Who must I punch ruthlessly into submission, my lady?"

Liang folds his hands professionally.

GM says, ""Your helpful attitude does you credit, sir""

Xiao-Li says, "I am sure we can repay you somehow."

GM says, ""As you must have noticed, Ironhand Nan is a brutal and loutish man and his soldiers are even moreso""

InnocentBystander says, "brb"

InnocentBystander has disconnected.

GM says, ""They sneak and spy around my school on the pretense of guarding it -- when they are the ones most likely to make us in need of protection!""

Feng says, "Oh, is he? I didn't really notice."

GM says, ""I thought perhaps you might have the kindness to go to the Governor and petition her to declare that the mercenaries must stay back from the grounds of my academy, so that my girls may study undisturbed""

Xiao-Li says, "I thought he seemed righteous and trustworthy, but I bow to your superior judgement and awareness."

[Crows-Nest] Xiao-Li says, "'also, a hottie!'"

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "hee hee"

Feng asks, "'her'?"

GM says, ""As luck has it, the Governor is holding petition hours now, in the Water Palace""

GM says (to Feng), ""Sapphire Miang, the Governor of Prosperty Devil District, is the one to whom you must appeal""

Feng says, "Well, then, let's storm the palace!"

Liang eye Feng uncouthly.

Patience says, "Aha."

Xiao-Li asks (of Feng), "might as your fists are, perhaps some discretion might be needed?"

Xiao-Li says, "er, mighty"

Feng says, "Patience can summon a thunderstorm to smash the roof open! Xiao-Li can leap inside with her spinning blade of death!"

Patience asks, "Is there something we might bring her that would enable her to see our cause in a clearer light?"

GM says, "She laughs lightly. "Try not to arouse the ire of the Governor -- persuasion for her, and save the violence for any who might disagree with you""

Liang says, "The good lady did suggest we simply needed to appeal that such must be done. It is the _potential_ of a more physical act that might be needed."

GM says (to Patience), ""An excellent suggestion! Let me see...""

Xiao-Li says, "perhaps we should take some form of restraints for Feng with us."

[rpg] GM says (to Patience), "remember that you suggested that, we'll get back to it in a sec"

[rpg] Patience says, "OK."

[rpg] Patience says, "(I was thinking it could be part of my Plan)"

[rpg] GM says, "oh, incidentally, everyone's Chi is refreshed to max"

[rpg] GM says, "right, exactly"

[Crows-Nest] Xiao-Li says, "woo woo, kicky punchy goodness ahead"

[rpg] GM says, "and also everyone gets a point of Xia Joss, which you can use to add a die to a roll at any point"

GM says, "And now we cut ahead to the Water Palace"

[rpg] Patience asks, "Do you get a bonus if your name has 'Xia' in it?"

Liang puts on his most elegant stride.

GM says, "it is clear even from a distance to what element this Palace is dedicated, as it is set in the center of a large lake"

InnocentBystander has connected.

InnocentBystander walks the plank to adventure. Arr!

InnocentBystander arrives, looking for booty.

GM says, "there are boats for those not of the Wulin, but you yourselves are able through your mastery of Lightfoot Kung Fu to glide across the surface of the water"

Liang adds a little flourish as he lands, hoping to impress any ladies that might be watching.

GM says, "inside it is a light and airy hall, with sunlight shining down from skylights in the ceiling, and floating candles on tiny rafts making it even brighter inside"

Feng lands, hoping to be attacked by about 70 guards with naginatas.

GM says, "Sapphire Miang, the Governor of Prosperous Devil District, sits on a throne on an outcrop in the middle of the water"

GM says, ""Greetings!" she says. " in the ceiling, and floating candles on tiny rafts making it even"

GM says, "er"

Xiao-Li bows deeply and gracefully to the Governor.

GM says, ""Liang Shui, Patience Meng, Feng Guo, and Xiao-Li Pai, I believe -- I am informed you have a petition for me?""

Liang bows. "My most destinguished lady, we do indeed."

[rpg] GM says, "(and a present, too)"

GM says, ""What is it you desire?""

Xiao-Li carefully and discreetly grabs the back of Feng's collar to remind him not to move or speak now.

[rpg] GM says, "ha ha"

[rpg] Liang asks, "what's the present and who has it?"

Patience says, "My lady, I bring these grains of rice, each inscribed with a poem extolling your virtues, hand-painted by the ladies of the Red Lotus."

[rpg] Feng says, "I suggest Liang presents it."

[rpg] GM exclaims, "I guess Patience has it!"

[rpg] Liang says, "Patience is good :)"

[rpg] Patience says, "Hee"

[rpg] GM says, "hey, that's a nice present"

[rpg] Feng says, "Wow, yeah."

GM says, "The Governor takes it with delight. "An extremely thoughtful gift that adds merit to any argument!""

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "very nice indeed."

[rpg] Feng says, "And if you throw them to the ground, they spell WISDMO!"

Patience bows and steps back.

[rpg] Feng says, "No, hang on."

[rpg] GM says, "(someone ask her to tell Ironhand Nan's guys to stay away from the Red Lotus Academy, so we can cut ahead)"

[rpg] Patience asks, "Liang?"

[rpg] Liang says, "roger that"

Liang says, "The Ladies of the Red Lotus had a concern regarding the mercenaries."

GM says, ""The mercenaries? But surely Ironhand Nan's guards are a necessary and proper part of the district!""

Liang smiles kindly. "It is not too much a really -- it is just their studies are being preturbed by the close proximity.

GM says, ""Ah, I see," the Governor says. "Well, let me consider this.""

[rpg] GM says, "ok, first off"

[rpg] GM says, "everyone is going to make a Grace roll, with difficulty 18, to see how she first takes you"

[rpg] Feng says, "Oh dear."

[rpg] GM says, "but first"

[rpg] GM says, "Patience should roll for his plan to see what bonus you get"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "hey, I get a bonus for grace, nice."

[rpg] Patience asks, "OK, what shall I roll?"

[rpg] GM says, "(people without Grace (it's a Presence skill) roll 1 die)"

[rpg] GM says (to Patience), "roll Grace for the plan itself, difficulty 20, with a +5 bonus"

[rpg] Patience asks, "Shall I use my [advice 1] thing?"

[rpg] Xiao-Li asks, "do I get the city bonus?"

[rpg] GM says, "sure"

[rpg] GM says (to Patience), "yes"

Patience rolls 4 10-sided dice: 2 6 7 10| 25

Liang rolls 4 10-sided dice: 2 2 9 4| 17

Xiao-Li rolls 4 10-sided dice: 6 6 10 6| 28

[rpg] GM says, "ok, so Patience gets a 17 + 5 = 20, so he makes the tactics check"

Feng says, "Um er."

Feng rolls 1 10-sided die: 3| 3

[Crows-Nest] Liang says, "I am continuing Luang's success streak, it seems."

[rpg] Feng says, "River time!"

[rpg] GM says, "so everyone gets a +5 to their rolls"

[Crows-Nest] GM says (to Liang), "no, that's actually just fine"

[rpg] Feng says, "Oh, or not, since I made the 18 with patience's help."

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "2 2 = 22"

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "+5 bonus is 27"

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "and you only needed an 18"

[rpg] Patience asks, "Now I make my own roll?"

[Crows-Nest] Liang says, "oh, missed the aim"

[rpg] GM says (to Patience), "I think this falls under the only roll once rule"

[rpg] GM says, "so we will say you made it"

[rpg] Xiao-Li asks, "hm, I have 36+5?"

[rpg] Patience says, "OK then."

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "I think I may put two of those 6s in my river"

[rpg] GM says (to Xiao), "sounds good"

[rpg] Feng says, "You're as graceful as a snow leopard after ten years of ballet study."

[rpg] GM says, "I guess Liang can actually put 2 2 in his river"

[rpg] GM says, "and use the 19"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "(so I get, what, 16+5? 21)"

[rpg] GM says, "right"

[rpg] GM says, "ok, so, Liang has 2 2 in his river, Xiao has 6 6"

[rpg] GM says, "and everyone makes the roll"

GM says, "The Governor smiles at you graciously. "Well, then I see no reason why --""

GM exclaims, "when suddenly the light above is darkened, and men come pouring down through the skylights!"

GM says, "and one woman, who calls "Lady Miang, a petition!""

Xiao-Li draws her sword, lets go of Feng, and assumes a defensive stance in front of the Governor

Feng asks (of Xiao-Li), "Quick, what's the gracious way to ask the governor if I should vanquish these inpouring men?"

GM says, ""Quite a day for petitions," murmurs the Governor. "And what do you request?""

Liang withdraws his fan, trying to remain elegant.

Xiao-Li says (to Feng), "stay your hand a moment, and the request may not be needed"

Feng asks (of Xiao-Li), "Okay, how about my other hand?"

Xiao-Li says, "stay that one too, yes"

GM says, ""I am from Ironhand Nan," says the woman, who you recognize as the dispossessed noble Fei Hsaio. "He feels it is in the best interests of the district for his soldiers to be given free rein at the Academy, so that they can ensure outside interests do not interfere in their schooling""

Feng says, "Curses."

GM says, ""Oh dear," says Sapphire Miang. "Clearly these two arguments must be brought into conflict so that we can see which is superior""

[rpg] Feng says, "I'm looking at the loresheet to try to see if one of these special thingies can apply here."

[rpg] Feng asks, "Is this a 'rival from the tourney'?"

Xiao-Li says (to Feng), "see? now *she's* going to ask *us* to fight."

Liang observes the petitioner with a cold eye.

GM says, "The Governor gestures and her servants bring out a large sheet of paper, and put a calligraphy pen into her hand"

GM says, "She marks the symbols for the five elements across the page"

GM says, ""We will have five debates!" she says. "After I have heard the arguments, I will make my decision!""

GM says, "Fei Hsaio eyes Liang warily. "I am sure my arguments will prove superior," she says, gesturing with her hand."

Xiao-Li says, "...or she'll do that, and you won't get a chance to fight."

Xiao-Li says, "keep those hands stayed for now."

GM says, "Her companion, a burly warrior, takes the signal, and he and his men move towards Liang"

GM says, "The Governor shrugs. "I am sure that to argue in the midst of conflict will only improve the situation.""

[rpg] GM says, "ok, here we go"

Liang snaps his fan noisily. "Predictions are for the foolhardy. One must simply be at one's best."

[rpg] GM says, "the deal is, we're going to run the debate at the combat simultaneously"

[rpg] GM says, "er, and the combat"

Xiao-Li exclaims (at Feng), "okay, time to unstay after all!"

Feng says, "Oh, let's just debate."

[rpg] Patience says, "That's hilarious."

[rpg] GM says, "on his initiative, Liang can use his full action to make arguments with a Persuade roll"

[rpg] nothings says, "speaking is a free action? ah"

[rpg] GM says, "and other people can knock heads"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "oh dear lord"

[rpg] GM says, "Liang may want to use his free actions to stay the hell away from the soldiers"

[rpg] GM says, "or, you know, hit them on the head if he'd rather"

[rpg] GM says, "so let's roll initiative"

Patience moves around to defend Liang.

[rpg] nothings asks, "as a free action? ok, where's the thing explaining what counts as a free action?"

[rpg] GM says, "oh, yes, and it might be useful to know that you can use a Tactics roll as a free action to prevent someone from moving somewhere"

[rpg] Liang says, "I want to inspire anger"

[rpg] Patience says, "I'm thinking of using Terrible Rising Water to defend Liang."

[rpg] GM says (to nothings), "there isn't a thing, but I think we can assume that combat is full and almost everything else is free"

[rpg] Liang says, "I want them to be utterly irrational to prove to the Governor that mercenaries are bad news"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "I think I want to take on the burly warrior guy"

[rpg] nothings says, "er, but you just said hit them on the head... oh, you meant rather than debate"

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

[rpg] GM says, "ok, initiative first"

[rpg] Liang asks, "So I will use my actions to let the warrior people take the front while taunting. That ok?"

Liang rolls 1 10-sided die: 9| 9

[rpg] Feng says, "I guess I'll fight the like a hundred other guys then since nobody else is bothering."

Xiao-Li says, "roll 4d10"

Xiao-Li says, "(whoops)"

[rpg] GM says, "that is totally fine, although if you do that, you'll have to miss the first argument your opponent is making, but it'll give a boinus on your latter rolls"

Xiao-Li rolls 4 10-sided dice: 2 7 8 4| 21

[rpg] GM exclaims (at Feng), "well, somebody better!"

[rpg] Patience says, "I'm still not exactly sure how advice works for Initiative."

[rpg] Patience says, "(for me)"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "18 +5 = 23"

[rpg] Patience asks, "If my action is to help Liang, does that count as advice, and can I get my extra die?"

[rpg] Liang asks, "Sure, I'll take the bonus. This is a modifier to all acts, so it'll affect the combat too, right?"

Feng rolls 5 10-sided dice: 5 3 10 6 1| 25

[rpg] GM says (to Liang), "just for you, though"

Feng says, "16+15 = 31 init"

[rpg] GM says, "oh, wait, I see, it's for everyone, yes"

[rpg] GM says, "on one group of mercenaries"

[rpg] GM says (to Patience), "hmm"

[rpg] GM says (to Patience), "sure, what the heck"

[rpg] Patience says, "Hee"

[rpg] GM says, "so roll 4 dice"

Patience rolls 4 10-sided dice: 9 7 10 4| 30

[rpg] Patience says, "Not that I got a pair anyway, but hey."

GM says, "meanwhile, the other guys: Black-Saber Jin"

GM rolls 5 10-sided dice: 5 6 2 10 10| 33

GM says, "(30)"

[rpg] Patience says, "And I think I'll use Fierce Flexible Fence."

GM rolls 1 10-sided die: 2| 2

[rpg] Liang says, "(anything else I need to roll?)"

GM says, "and Fei"

GM says, "and the soldiers will go on 15"

GM says, "there are, 8 squads of them, although only one squad can pile on a person at a time"

[rpg] GM says (to Liang), "not yet"

GM says, "Feng first"

Feng asks, "How big is a squad?"

GM says, "5 guys again"

GM says, "they're basically the same dudes from before, since they're all in Ironhand Nan's employ"

GM says, "one guy with a black eye is definitely one of the same dudes from before"

[rpg] nothings asks, "hmm, if it only affects 1 of 8 squads, Liang's thing might not be a good idea?"

Feng says, "Squad, prepare yourselves for contusions!"

[rpg] GM says, "well, it's not a good idea tactically, but he'll get a +5 to later rolls in the debate if it works"

[rpg] nothings says, "oh, it will apply to the debate, not just to that squad, ok"

Feng says, "Living Weapon and Quick Rip again, I guess."

[rpg] Liang says, "it's mostly to the debate"

Feng says, "Hard as granite sharp as steel yada yada"

[rpg] GM says, "(the +5 is a this-is-a-clever-plan bonus)"

Feng rolls 5 10-sided dice: 1 4 4 2 4| 15

[rpg] GM says, "wow"

[rpg] GM asks, "do you want to put one in the river?"

Feng says, "And I forgot to mention that they also have some of the properties of Kryptonite."

[rpg] Feng says, "Well, I've got 0 0."

[rpg] GM says, "oh yeah"

[rpg] GM says, "ok then"

[rpg] GM asks, "so what's your total? 34 + 15?"

[rpg] Feng says, "I'll keep the 0 0 and see how much damage I do here."

[rpg] Feng says, "I guess so."

GM rolls 3 10-sided dice: 6 5 5| 16

GM says, "so they have 25 + 8 = 33"

GM says, "so you are superior by 16, and thus get, uh, 3 dice + 1 base die + 1 bonus die from Quick Rip"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "I think he killed 'em"

[rpg] GM exclaims, "I guess so!"

Feng says, "whack whack whack whack kasmackycrumple"

Feng notices that there are several squads left and takes his other hand out of his pocket.

[rpg] Feng says, "Non-fatal damage only, if that's possible."

GM says, "meanwhile, Jin sees that Xiao is clearly his target here, and moves towards her, holding his saber menacingly"

[rpg] Feng says, "I mean I'm still being polite for the governor's sake."

[rpg] GM says, "yeah, you can do whatever you want when you take them out"

[rpg] Xiao-Li performs Moon Covered by Clouds technique

[rpg] Feng says, "I'm trying to knock them over gently so as not to damage any of the valuable objects or furnishings in this hall."

GM says, ""Behold my mastery of Heart-Breaking Blade!" he says"

[rpg] GM says (to Xiao), "probably a good idea"

GM rolls 5 10-sided dice: 1 9 8 5 10| 33

[Crows-Nest] Liang says, "I'm totally imagining this as a scene from Samurai Shodown III"

Xiao-Li calls in a fog of clouds to conceal her movements.

GM says, "19, +10, +5 = 34"

GM says, "-10"

GM says, "so you have to defend with 24"

GM says, "which you roll against with the same roll you use to attack with"

[rpg] Xiao-Li asks, "that's 5d10 +15, right?"

[rpg] GM says, "yeah"

Xiao-Li rolls 5 10-sided dice: 10 2 4 10 8| 34

[rpg] GM says, "nice"

Xiao-Li says, "20 +15"

[rpg] GM says, "also, this reminds me -- when you use 0s for your rolls, you get a point of joss"

[rpg] Patience says, "Or you could take 18+15 and save the 10's."

[rpg] GM says, "Xia Joss, since you succeeded"

[rpg] GM says, "she's already got a full river"

[rpg] Patience says, "Oh, never mind."

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "feh, didn't need to use moon covered by clouds"

[rpg] Feng asks, "Xia Joss does what?"

[rpg] GM says, "spend to add a bonus die"

[rpg] Liang says, "extra bonus die"

[rpg] Feng says, "Aha, yeah."

[rpg] Feng asks, "Declare before you roll, I assume?"

[rpg] Patience says, "Add at any time."

GM says, "You parry elegantly, barely rippling the water"

[rpg] GM says, "what he said"

GM asks, "and now your response?"

[rpg] Feng says, "Handy."

Xiao-Li says, "brutal: speed blade"

[rpg] Xiao-Li asks, "assuming it's the start of my turn?"

[rpg] GM says, "so this gets you a second attack at the end of the round"

[rpg] GM says, "yeah"

[rpg] GM says, "oh, I see, this is something we should technically have used before initiative, since it gives an initiative bonus"

[rpg] GM says, "but oh well, no biggie"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "oh, wait, I guess I should have... right"

[rpg] GM says, "go for it anyway if you want"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "sure"

[rpg] Patience says, "It's hard to get used to the 'declare actions before initiative'"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "I have no idea what it does to my rolls"

[rpg] GM asks, "nothing -- do you want to add soaring blade too?"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "sure, why not"

[rpg] Xiao-Li asks, "so, 5d10 +15 +10?"

[rpg] GM says, "yeah"

Xiao-Li rolls 5 10-sided dice: 10 10 1 8 10| 39

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "ha ha ha"

[rpg] Patience says, "woo-hoo"

[rpg] Xiao-Li exclaims, "more xia joss for me!"

[rpg] Patience exclaims, "Plus another Xia!"

[rpg] GM says, "holy crap"

Xiao-Li says, "30 +25 = 55"

[rpg] GM says, "ok, so that is probably a critical success, let's see his roll"

GM rolls 5 10-sided dice: 6 7 5 3 5| 26

GM says, "25 + 10 = 35"

[rpg] Feng says, "Well, he's trying."

[rpg] GM asks, "ok, so you make a critical success -- do you want to disarm him in addition to doing damage, or maim him (so he can't hold a sword in one hand) in addition to damage?"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "disarm, I think"

[rpg] Xiao-Li asks, "should I narrate, or will you?"

[rpg] Feng says, "That's a little ambiguous in this context."

[rpg] GM says, "please do"

[rpg] GM says, "also roll, uh, 5d10 +15 damage"

Xiao-Li rolls 5 10-sided dice: 8 10 1 1 7| 27

Xiao-Li asks, "so, 36 damage?"

[rpg] GM says, "he's going to use his chi aura to soak some"

GM rolls 1 10-sided die: 7| 7

[rpg] GM says, "17"

[rpg] GM says, "so 19 damage, I guess"

[rpg] GM says, "(which takes him down one health level, and stops his flow in, uh, silver chi)"

[rpg] GM says, "but please narrate"

Xiao-Li leaps gracefully over her opponent, landing behind him as she slashes and spins and thrusts. As she lands, with one graceful final twist of her hand, she sends his blade spinning off into the water.

[rpg] GM asks, "Liang? Patience?"

Liang prepares by placing rose petals in the folds of his fan.

[rpg] GM says, "excellent"

[rpg] Patience asks, "Who first?"

[rpg] Patience says, "(I'm 19)"

[rpg] Liang says, "I think we're tied"

[rpg] GM says, "you both are, so he can go"

[rpg] Patience says, "Ah, OK."

[rpg] Liang asks, "by the way, doesn't Anger cause a -10 modifier for them, not -5?"

[rpg] GM asks (of Liang), "do you want to spend 2 chi of a color to get a bonus to your roll to make them angry?"

[rpg] GM says, "(you're rolling 5d10 right now)"

[rpg] GM says, "+5 if you spent the chi"

[rpg] Liang asks, "likely worth it. the gold chi?"

[rpg] GM says, "any color -- probably use crimson, so you can save the gold"

[rpg] InnocentBystander says, "I thought making them mad is -10 for them"

[rpg] GM says, "making them mad will be -10 to their actions, +5 to your future arguments"

Liang poses and unfurls his fan, spraying rose petals and filling the room with a cloud. "Your bodies and your minds are weak. They are inferior to both our wit and our kung fu. Soon you will know your acts to be futile."

[rpg] GM says, "ha ha"

[rpg] GM says, "excellent"

Liang rolls 5 10-sided dice: 10 7 3 3 7| 30

[rpg] Feng says, "Ooooh."

[rpg] GM says, "sweet"

[rpg] GM says, "I guess you can put either the 7s or 3s in your rive"

[rpg] InnocentBystander says, "31337"

[rpg] Liang asks, "3s?"

[rpg] Xiao-Li asks, "did the GM switch in some loaded dice or something?"

[rpg] GM says, "they're going to roll 2 dice to resist it, but in either case they're unlikely to succeed"

[rpg] Liang thinks

[rpg] GM says, "it doesn't matter too much which you put in the river"

[rpg] Liang says, "Two dice to resist, put in the 7s"

[rpg] Liang says, "since I get the chi bonus on it"

[rpg] GM says, "alrighty"

GM rolls 2 10-sided dice: 2 7| 9

GM says, ""You can't talk to us like that!" one of the soldiers says, snarling. He stomps towards you, ignoring the waves he is creating which send splashes up onto the hem of the Governor's outfit."

InnocentBystander has disconnected.

InnocentBystander has connected.

InnocentBystander walks the plank to adventure. Arr!

InnocentBystander arrives, looking for booty.

[rpg] GM says, "Patience up next"

[rpg] Patience says, "OK, I'll take the +5 to trace out the constellation, going for a Terrible Rising Water Technique, keeping people from approaching Liang. Rolling Learning:"

Patience rolls 4 10-sided dice: 6 10 8 9| 33

[rpg] Patience says, "Man, not a single pair yet."

[rpg] Feng says, "Not the governor's outfit!"

[rpg] Patience says, "Anyway, this is supposed to be Opposed by my target's awareness."

[rpg] GM says, "good point -- 2 dice again"

GM rolls 2 10-sided dice: 4 10| 14

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "(question: when do I take my secondary attack? after everyone else has gone?)"

[rpg] GM says, "yeah"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "okay"

[rpg] Patience asks, "So, that's a success? You don't subtract the 14 from my roll to see if I'm still better than 20?"

[rpg] GM says, "no"

[rpg] GM says, "sorry, opposed skill rolls (unlike damage rolls) you just have to be better than them"

[rpg] Patience says, "Gotcha."

[rpg] GM says, "although there may be some min target you have to hit also"

[rpg] Patience says, "So I have to beat both 20 and target's awareness."

[rpg] Patience says, "Sounds good."

[rpg] GM says, "yeah, which you did"

[rpg] GM asks, "want to narrate? or me?"

Patience's staff blurs again, knocking back enraged guards trying to get at Liang.

[rpg] GM says, "excellent"

GM says, ""His inscrutable mastery of the waters defeats our movements!" says one awed guard."

GM says, ""Well, perhaps we should beat on somebody else then," says another."

[rpg] Feng says, "Hee hee hee."

Feng cracks his knuckles.

GM says, "ok, so now guards go and stab people"

[rpg] Xiao-Li asks, "does the moon covered by clouds thing still count for this?"

GM says, "there are enough guards to attack everybody except Liang at this point"

[rpg] GM says, "all attacks this round, yeah"

[rpg] Patience says, "My TRW only affects Liang, so they can attack me if they want."

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "kickass"

[rpg] GM exclaims, "I guess they will then!"

GM says, "ok, first against Feng"

GM rolls 5 10 -sided dice: 104276| 29 + 8 = 37

GM says, "whoops"

GM rolls 5 10-sided dice: 2 4 1 10 1| 18

GM says, "21 + 9 = 29"

[rpg] Feng says, "Yikes."

GM says, "to block, roll your normal attack with bonuses"

[rpg] Feng says, "I didn't do anything defensive, but I assume it's too late for that."

Feng rolls 5 10-sided dice: 9 3 3 9 10| 34

[rpg] Feng says, "Woohoo."

[rpg] GM says, "you can if you -- uh, I guess it doesn't matter"

[rpg] GM says, "man, you people and your pairs"

[rpg] Feng says, "I guess I can't exchange stuff with my river."

[rpg] GM says, "sure you can"

[rpg] GM says, "step 1) throw away from river 2) pull out from river 3) put in river"

[rpg] Feng says, "I thought the movement order disallowed that."

[rpg] Feng says, "I think you have 2 and 3 backwards."

[rpg] Feng says, "At least the mechanics page says so."

[rpg] GM says, "whoops, sorry"

[rpg] Feng says, "What the hell, 29 plus some bonuses."

[rpg] GM says, "can't you put the 3s in the river? I guess it's full already"

[rpg] Feng says, "I'll keep the zeroes in my river since they're worth a xia joss at some point."

[rpg] GM says, "makes sense"

[rpg] Patience says, "You can put them in *my* river."

GM says, "The guards approach Feng, but his flying fists knock them back into the water, the pillars, other guards, etc"

GM exclaims, "Xiao!"

GM rolls 5 10-sided dice: 9 3 4 8 10| 34

GM says, "vs 17"

Feng asks, "17?"

GM says, "er, 27"

Feng asks, "Do you mean 19+8, 27?"

Feng says, "Aha."

GM says, "uh, except she has -10"

GM exclaims, "so I was right anyway!"

Feng says, "Ha."

Xiao-Li rolls 5 10-sided dice: 10 3 2 1 4| 20

Xiao-Li says, "14+15=29"

GM says, "Xiao is like a mist, a mist full of nasty flashing blades"

[rpg] Feng says, "This game feels a bit like a German board game."

GM says, "The guards circle around it but can find no opening in her defense"

[rpg] Feng says, "The way the dice tactics and chi and joss work."

GM exclaims, "and Patience!"

GM rolls 5 10-sided dice: 5 7 1 5 5| 23

GM says, "crikey"

[rpg] Feng says, "Interestingly different from something like D&D."

GM says, "43, yet"

Patience rolls 4 10-sided dice: 3461| 14 + 25 = 39

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "man, poor Patience"

[rpg] Patience says, "arr"

Patience rolls 4 10-sided dice: 6 3 5 3| 17

[rpg] Patience says, "23+25=48"

[rpg] Patience exclaims, "My first pair! Just when I needed it!"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "nice"

[rpg] Feng says, "Whew!"

[rpg] Patience says, "Wait."

[rpg] Feng says (to Patience), "You really *are* growing older!"

[rpg] Patience says, "I only needed 39, which I can get with 16+25."

[rpg] Patience says, "So I'll put the 3's in my river."

[rpg] InnocentBystander says, "you would say that"

[rpg] Patience asks, "Is that right?"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "very cunning indeed, if it works"

[rpg] Feng asks, "39? Not 43?"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "...yeah, they have 43 with their bonus"

[rpg] Patience says, "Whoops, never mind."

[rpg] Patience says, "I saw the wrong number in my scrollback."

[rpg] GM says, "ok, but I guess you still deflect them"

[rpg] Liang says, "'s ok, at this point I'm utterly confused and just along for the ride"

GM says, "The enraged guards are no match for Patience's calm awareness of the defensive power of a kick to the head."

Feng says, "Hee hee."

GM says, "finally, Fei musters an argument."

[rpg] Xiao-Li exclaims, "secondary attack!"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "not 'finally'"

GM says, ""Clearly," she says, "The soldiers are like Fire.""

[rpg] GM exclaims, "she hasn't gone yet!"

[rpg] Xiao-Li exclaims, "yes, but her move isn't the final one of the round!"

GM says, ""Their youthful, uh, vigor and fierceness are just what is needed to defend every part of the Academy.""

[rpg] GM says, "oh yeah"

[rpg] Patience says, "Hee hee"

[rpg] GM says, "picky picky"

GM says, "she's got to hit a 20 to make an argument"

GM rolls 4 10-sided dice: 5 4 5 3| 17

[rpg] Liang says, "Bua ha ha ha ha"

[rpg] Feng asks, "And she's at -10 for the anger, right?"

[rpg] GM says, "no, that just affected one squadron of guys"

[rpg] Feng says, "Or was that just the -- ah."

GM says, "The Governor nods thoughtfully at this, and inscribes Ironhand Nan's name up beneath the element of Fire"

[rpg] GM exclaims, "Secondary attack!"

[rpg] Xiao-Li exclaims, "yay!"

[rpg] Xiao-Li exclaims, "Flash of Steel!"

[rpg] Patience asks, "If Liang had made an argument, we would have compared their rolls?"

[rpg] GM says, "right"

Xiao-Li rolls 5 10-sided dice: 4 5 2 2 10| 23

Xiao-Li says, "22 + 15 +10"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "muahahahaha"

[rpg] Liang says, "right, gave up the first one to get a bonus for the later ones"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "I am totally beating up this poor disarmed dude"

GM says, "Jin is looking a little distraught what with not having his weapon and stuff"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "which isn't particularly honorable but hey"

GM rolls 5 10-sided dice: 8 1 5 5 7| 26

GM says, "25 + 5 = 30"

[rpg] Feng says, "Well, you could beat him senseless with the flat of your blade."

[rpg] Feng says, "Or something."

[rpg] GM asks, "so, uh, you beat him by 17? so roll 4 dice for damage?"

[rpg] GM says, "+5 from your sword"

Xiao-Li rolls 4 10-sided dice: 10 6 9 5| 30

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "oh, I'll burn a xia joss too"

Xiao-Li rolls 1 10-sided die: 6| 6

[rpg] GM says, "nice"

[rpg] GM asks, "so 31 damage?"

Xiao-Li says, "31 damage"

[rpg] GM says, "and he is out of Chi Aura to soak it"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "I think I beat him unconscious"

[rpg] GM says, "jeezus"

[rpg] GM says, "not quite, but he is down over three health levels"

[rpg] GM says, "meaning he is lucky he only has like two techniques, or he would be running out of chi altogether"

GM exclaims, "ok, next round!"

GM says, "roll initiative"

[rpg] Feng asks, "How many health levels are there?"

[rpg] GM says, "5"

Liang rolls 1 10-sided die: 5| 5

[rpg] GM says, "(one per chi)"

[rpg] Xiao-Li asks, "we get back 1 chi of each colour, right?"

[rpg] Patience says, "I guess I'll just roll 3 this time, since I can't see how to work advice into it ;-)"

Patience rolls 3 10-sided dice: 9 3 10| 22

[rpg] GM says, "yeah, everyone regains one chi of each color"

[rpg] GM says, "so if you used a level-1 technique, you're back to full"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "okay, I invoke dragon speed"

[rpg] GM says, "excellent"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "+10 speed"

[rpg] Patience says, "Oh, right, we have to declare actions now."

GM says, "Jin:"

Xiao-Li rolls 5 10-sided dice: 10 3 4 6 5| 28

[rpg] Patience asks, "Is anyone attacking Liang? Do I need to use my Fence again?"

GM rolls 4 10-sided dice: 10 9 8 6| 33

[rpg] Liang says, "Liang is going to be doing the arguments now"

Feng rolls 5 10-sided dice: 9 1 8 2 8| 28

[rpg] Patience says, "Right."

GM says, "(19 + 15)"

Xiao-Li says, "16 +10 +5, hmm"

Feng says, "28+15 = 43 init."

[rpg] Patience says, "I need to know if I should defend you again, or just worry about myself."

Xiao-Li says, "I'll pull out those 6s from my river"

Xiao-Li says, "so, 36 +10 +5"

Xiao-Li says, "51"

[rpg] GM says, "I imagine you can feel free to start kicking some heads"

[rpg] Feng says, "Bah!"

[rpg] Xiao-Li exclaims, "it is fun having speed boosters!"

GM rolls 1 10-sided die: 6| 6

GM says, "(Fei)"

[rpg] GM asks, "Patience?"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "he rolled already"

[rpg] Patience says, "My inititive is 19."

Xiao-Li says, "okay, a normal attack on this poor defenceless guy"

[rpg] GM says, "oh, whoops"

[rpg] Patience says, "And, hmm, I'll go ahead and do Fence again for myself."

[rpg] GM asks, "do you want to spend a free action and a tactics roll to try and keep him from regaining his sword?"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "sure"

[rpg] GM says, "(you get 2 free actions in addition to your full action)"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "I mean, I have no Tactics skill that I can see"

[rpg] Patience says, "Man, that terminology is wacky."

[rpg] GM says, "that'd be one die (it's a Genius skill)"

[rpg] Feng says, "'Free action'? Yeah, it is."

[rpg] Patience says, "Oh, can I? I have Tactics."

[rpg] GM says, "sure"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "hey, cool"

[rpg] GM says, "(as long as you describe yourself interposing in some way, or move it out of the way or something)"

[rpg] Patience says, "Right."

Patience rolls 4 10-sided dice: 3 1 4 10| 18

[rpg] Patience says, "Hoy."

[rpg] GM says, "I guess he's got 3 dice"

GM rolls 3 10-sided dice: 2 8 1| 11

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "ah well"

[rpg] Patience asks, "Hmm, I have one Joss die, right?"

GM says, "Jin suddenly leaps into the air, passing over Patience's staff"

[rpg] GM says, "sounds reasonable"

Patience rolls 1 10-sided die: 2| 2

[rpg] Patience says, "Snrk."

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "never mind"

[rpg] Feng says, "Even the power of Whedon can't keep this guy from his sword!"

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

[rpg] GM says, "anyway, Xiao's turn"

Xiao-Li rolls 5 10-sided dice: 9 8 5 10 10| 42

[rpg] GM says, "crikey"

[rpg] Xiao-Li exclaims, "muy joss!"

GM says, "Jin tries to block bare-handed"

GM rolls 4 10-sided dice: 10 3 5 2| 20

GM says, "uh, not very well"

Xiao-Li says, "bless"

[rpg] GM asks, "ok, so he got a 15 -- what did you get?"

Xiao-Li exclaims, "I shall smite you down with righteousness!"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "35"

[rpg] GM says, "man"

[rpg] GM asks, "5d10 + 5?"

[rpg] GM asks, "or did you have some other bonus too?"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "oh, no, 25"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "sorry, misread"

[rpg] GM says, "ok, so 3d10+5, plus any bonuses you have not from the sword"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "no, 15... attack with sword is +15"

[rpg] GM says, "ha ha"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "so, 20 +15"

[rpg] GM says, "JUST ROLL"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "YOU'VE CONFUSED ME"

[rpg] GM says, "5d10 for 20 over + 1 base die"

[rpg] GM says, "+5 for sword damage bonus"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "wow"

[rpg] GM says, "+ any kung fu you're using"

[rpg] GM says, "well, he *is* trying to parry bare-handed"

Xiao-Li rolls 6 10-sided dice: 1 1 3 5 9 8| 27

[rpg] GM says, "you have to give him credit for trying at all"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "(my kung-fu only does speed and defense)"

[rpg] GM says, "LAME"

[rpg] GM says, "I mean"

Xiao-Li says, "26 damage"

GM exclaims, "Jin uses his Chi to resist!"

GM rolls 2 10-sided dice: 8 7| 15

GM says, "18 of it"

[rpg] Xiao-Li asks, "man, a critical hit for 8 damage?"

[rpg] GM says, "(he is almost down to his last health level)"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "that *is* lame"

[rpg] GM says, "oh, crap, this was a critical hit too"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "a HA"

[rpg] GM says, "well, I guess he is also maimed and will have to use his sword left-handed"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "woo woo"

GM exclaims, "Feng!"

[rpg] Feng says, "Okay, so, I wonder if I can take out two squads this turn."

[rpg] Feng asks, "Would I have to do some kind of movement action for that?"

[rpg] GM says, "you can do a KUNG FU MIRACLE"

[rpg] Feng says, "In addition to the kung fu for a secondary attack, I mean."

[rpg] Xiao-Li asks, "flashing talons?"

[rpg] GM says, "hmm, I think you can't split a single attack across squads"

Feng burns chi like crazy!

[rpg] GM says, "but I can tell you the cost to get another attack -- oh, ok, you have kung fu to do it"

Feng says, "Hardness Of The Bell! And don't laugh, it just means I'm really tough!"

[rpg] GM says, "(doing a kung fu miracle is like improvising, and it's more expensive than doing it with kung fu you know)"

[rpg] GM says, "ha ha ha"

Feng says, "Brutal Fist of Iron: Living Weapon! HYEAH!"

GM says, ""I can tell by his mild demeanour that he is a Zan master!" one of the soldiers says to another"

Feng rolls 5 10-sided dice: 4 7 10 5 10| 36

[rpg] GM says, "BONG"

Feng says, "And two more 10s from my river! Rar!"

[rpg] GM says, "holy mackeroositz"

[rpg] Xiao-Li exclaims, "Feng gets all the joss!"

[rpg] GM asks, "so 40 + 5 = 45?"

GM says, "just for the sake of argument, they get"

GM rolls 3 10-sided dice: 6 4 2| 12

Feng says, "Plus: Quick Rip!"

GM says, "uh, 16 + 8 = 24"

[rpg] GM says, "so 55 over 24"

[rpg] GM says, "if there were any left standing you could disarm them"

[rpg] GM says, "but I don't think that is an issue"

Feng says, "And Flashing Talons! since I think I have enough chi for all this crap."

[rpg] GM says, "go crazy"

[rpg] Feng says, "So I get a secondary later."

[rpg] GM says, "right"

[rpg] GM says, "well, you take them all out, seems like"

[rpg] GM says, "so feel free to narrate that"

[rpg] Feng says, "But for the meantime I will just pose over their recumbent bodies like Bruce Lee."

[rpg] GM says, "ha ha ha"

Feng's fists fly furiously in a blur of furious furiousity!

(From GM) Guards fly everywhere!

Feng stops dead after what seems like a couple of minutes.

(From Feng) Mysteriously, the guards' armour is left standing, apparently untouched.

[rpg] GM says, "ha ha ha"

[rpg] Feng asks, "Do these bonuses still apply to my secondary attack?"

[rpg] GM says, "no, they're per-attack"

[rpg] Feng says, "Oh, okay, fine."

GM says, "Jin leaps into the air, trailing blood behind him like a stream, and picks up his sword, then leaps back to slash at Xiao with it"

[rpg] Feng says, "Should still be able to take out a couple more guards."

GM says, "(not knowing any better)"

GM rolls 5 10-sided dice: 9 5 9 5 9| 37

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "I get to | reduce the first defence rolled against you this round by 1 die"

[rpg] Patience says, "(left-handed)"

GM says, "(no bonus, what with his left hand and stuff)"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "(I now note)"

[rpg] GM says, "ooh, nice"

GM rolls 4 10-sided dice: 6 3 5 6| 20

[rpg] GM says, "substantially better"

GM says, "26"

[rpg] (from Feng) Jin says, "But there's something you should know: I am not left-handed!"

[rpg] GM says, "oh, whoops wait"

[rpg] (from Feng) Jin says, "Oh, hang on, crap."

[rpg] GM says, "sorry, that was "defense against you", hunh"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says (to yeah,), "defense, right"

[rpg] GM says, "so I guess he did still get that 9 5 9 5 9 roll"

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "dammit"

[rpg] GM says, "fear his mighty 39"

[rpg] GM says, "well, feel free to use kung fu"

[rpg] Xiao-Li exclaims, "moon covered by clouds!"

[rpg] GM exclaims, "fear his less-migthy 29!"

Xiao-Li rolls 5 10-sided dice: 7 10 2 9 1| 29

[rpg] Xiao-Li exclaims, "burn joss!"

[rpg] Feng says, "I feel bad for this guy. I sort of hope he gets a token slash in."

Xiao-Li rolls 1 10-sided die: 5| 5

[rpg] Xiao-Li exclaims, "...and again!"

Xiao-Li rolls 1 10-sided die: 10| 10

[rpg] Xiao-Li says, "whew"

[rpg] GM says, "man"

[rpg] Patience says, "Spend joss to gain joss"

[rpg] GM says, "and you get joss back"

[rpg] GM s