Nanyang Provincial Roleplay

[Crim]

"Not quite," Jun answered, coughing some amount of blood. "It will take more than an ogre's axe to kill me. More importantly, how are you?"

Without waiting for her answer, Xiang Jun rose to his feet, soliciting help from the woman as he did so. The Yangcheng native approached the now lifeless form of Zao Xing and smiled lightly at the accomplishment. A victory he owed to luck, it gave the boy content nonetheless. Xiang Jun dealt the already dead warrior another slash to the throat before he pilfered the armor from Zao's body and the axe near the door. As he motioned out of the smokehouse, the boy hoped that his escorts have taken care of the other soldiers from Huyang.

"The governor won't take this lightly," Jun said to the girl. "For your safety, you must elope with me to.. Chen.." With a faint smile, he added. "That bastard must have hit me so hard that I can recall your name no longer. In any event, you can call me 'Jun'."

[Charlemagne]

"Elope to Chen?" The girl looked genuinely confused about the statement, before it finally settled into the head beneath her raven hair. "But what about Uncle," she motioned to the tavern with a nod. "And our tavern. The governor will hve it burned when he finds out, and my family will be slaughtered. The governor is an old war hero, and nobody would dare to defend them." It seemed as though the girl was apprehensive about the idea of abandoning her family, and shook her head against the idea. "I can not leave them."

The young girl, who despite Jun's obvious hint, still didn't seem concerned with revealing her identity. She did however, help the young warrior back to the tavern, where the bodies of the two fallen soldiers were being cleaned up, and where no sign of the three remaining soldiers could be found. Placing Jun in his seat with his obviously shocked comrades, she departed quickly to fetch them more drinks. Her Uncle immediately started in with questions, but she waved him off without answer.

When she returned, she had with her a round of drinks and a damp rag, which she used to immediately begin nursing the wounds on Jun's face. She blushed a little bit as she worked, and then added, "If I didn't say so before, thank you for defending me."

[Crim]

The old captain of Xiang's escorts, a war veteran himself, managed to keep his composure as the severely injured youngster returned to the table. Looking in alternate to four of his men, he gave out inaudible instructions which the other soldiers strangely understood. A soldier blocked the entrance to the smokehouse while two of the men entered it, presumably to clean Xiang Jun's "mess" inside. Finally, the remaining soldier moved out of the tavern and served as the cabal's lookout.

"Our young lord makes you an offer you should not refuse," the grizzled vet said casually. "As Jun's guest, you will inevitably fall under the sphere of protection of his elder "kinsman". This tavern will burn whether or not you join us to Chen..."

Xiang Jun waved off the captain before the latter could say more. Turning to the woman, he said. "Then, take your family with you. I will see to the welfare of your household while you are in Chen. That much I assure you." Without waiting for her answer, Jun shifted his attention back to the captain. "Where are the three soldiers from Huyang? How much time do we have?"

[Taishi Ci]

[Closed RPs]

A small band of soldiers was marching along one of the many roads in Nanyang, Baocen Peng amongst them. He had momentarily left his army in Chu under the care of some of his subordinates in order to make a short scouting trip and get an idea of the lay of the land. Although several other agents of the King of Chu had already marched off elsewhere, Baocen wanted to make sure he would have every advantage before he committed his troops to battle. His latest experience at Yangcheng had shown the importance of a well-defend supply line, and he was keeping an eye out for the most defendable areas.

Soon, however, the group came to a fork in the road. The old man pulled on his beard, pondering which way to go from here.

---

Baocen had learned from one of his old friends in the Court of an especially promising young leader, and his interest was piqued. Although his assigned army was large, he would still need able officers to lead them, and any good lead needed to be pursued. He couldn't deny having a personal interest in meeting this woman as well. Perhaps he could impart some of the lessons he'd learned during his campaigns to her, as well as pick up a new idea or two himself.

Upon arriving at the residence that he had been told Lin Yue was currently staying, he knocked on the door and brushed the dust out of the folds of his robe, waiting for a response.

[Royalspork]

Having heard a visitor, Lin Yue went to the door to answer. When she saw an old man, she bowed respectfully and said, "what can I do for you?"

[Taishi Ci]

Baocen returned the bow. "You are Lady Lin Yue, I presume? I am Baocen Peng, an official of the King of Chu, and I am here to speak with you concerning your help. I've heard that you have exceptional leadership capabilities, particularly from the vanguard. The King has dispatched me to Nanyang with an army to pacify the province and bring it under his domain, and I will need capable leaders to help me accomplish that task: leaders like yourself, Lady Lin. Would you be interested in providing me assistence and leading men into battle?"

[Royalspork]

Lin Yue was shocked by the request given to her, never could she imagine that she would be just asked to lead, she had thought that she would have to go through many loops to be given a chance. Yet here the chance had just been given to her on a silver platter. She struggled to respond, "Yes I am Lady Lin Yue. Yes I do have some skill at leading troops, but I have not been given a major opportunity before now. So I guess, if you would take me, I would love to fight for you."

[Taishi Ci]

"Excellent," said Baocen, nodding his head. "Well then, once you have put your affairs in order, I will lead you to the encampment. I trust we will accomplish great things together, Lady Lin."

[Charlemagne]

The old captain of Xiang's escorts, a war veteran himself, managed to keep his composure as the severely injured youngster returned to the table. Looking in alternate to four of his men, he gave out inaudible instructions which the other soldiers strangely understood. A soldier blocked the entrance to the smokehouse while two of the men entered it, presumably to clean Xiang Jun's "mess" inside. Finally, the remaining soldier moved out of the tavern and served as the cabal's lookout.

"Our young lord makes you an offer you should not refuse," the grizzled vet said casually. "As Jun's guest, you will inevitably fall under the sphere of protection of his elder "kinsman". This tavern will burn whether or not you join us to Chen..."

Xiang Jun waved off the captain before the latter could say more. Turning to the woman, he said. "Then, take your family with you. I will see to the welfare of your household while you are in Chen. That much I assure you." Without waiting for her answer, Jun shifted his attention back to the captain. "Where are the three soldiers from Huyang? How much time do we have?"

The old grizzled veteran shrugged nonchalantly. "Judging by the distance to the garrisson, and how quickly the men can report? An hour if we are lucky. Half that if we are not." The man rose and sent a few soldiers out to ready the horses. He made no excuses for letting the other three Huynag troops escape, and pointedly ignored the question regarding their condition.

The woman looked to her uncle pointedly, only to find the man already packing his belongings and emptying his strongbox. She looked back to Jun with a smile and a shrug. "It would appear that we are going. And we are grateful for your protection." Her eyes lowered and her face blushed a little bit. "I must go to gather my belongings."

A short while later, the man and his neice were ready to depart, looking wistfully at the tavern, and then to the men from Chu. "We are ready," she said, with a hint of sadness in her tone, but with eyes that looked eager to start a new life.

((Jin Mei Liao; 20; 34-22-61-72-89; Assemble I, Civil Admin I, Doctor I, Haste I, Inspire I; has joined the forces of Xiang Yu.))

[Lurking Tyranny]

[Closed RPs]

A small band of soldiers was marching along one of the many roads in Nanyang, Baocen Peng amongst them. He had momentarily left his army in Chu under the care of some of his subordinates in order to make a short scouting trip and get an idea of the lay of the land. Although several other agents of the King of Chu had already marched off elsewhere, Baocen wanted to make sure he would have every advantage before he committed his troops to battle. His latest experience at Yangcheng had shown the importance of a well-defend supply line, and he was keeping an eye out for the most defendable areas.

Soon, however, the group came to a fork in the road. The old man pulled on his beard, pondering which way to go from here.

A small force emerged from the croplands alongside the fork in the road. One man was on a thick bodied horse and he raised an ungloved hand in greeting. Though he had a halberd across his back he did not seem intent on using it. His men remained back a fair distance as he rode ahead, but even from the distance it could be seen that they were well armed. They gripped spears and were dressed in leather mail.

"Ho there traveler!" The large bearded fellow on the horse called out as he rode closer. "You and your men look confused? Where are you from and where do you head?"