Nanyang Provincial Roleplay

[ann]

For roleplay in Nanyang.

[Lurking Tyranny]

The rain had finally died down to a light drizzle over the village of Xinkaiduan. It had been raining for the better part of a week and Gu Hama was thankful that he could finally get back to repairing the main gate to the small village.

Xinkaiduan was not very large nor was it wealthy, but despite being located in the forested mountain range far from the major cities or towns, it's people were if not happy, at least content. Populated by men and women of the Ba, they kept their own dialect and traditions. It was not often visited by outsiders; due both to its remoteness and lack of real wealth. The only real products worth trading that came from Xinkaiduan was the cork oak cut from the surrounding forests.

Several years ago Gu Hama and his cousin Ru came to Xinkaiduan and took up the role of chiefs. They had the pedigree, the authority, the knowledge, and most importantly the strength to do so and not be questioned. Since then the quality of life in Xinkaiduan had been slowly, but steadily improving. This was in no small part due to the medical skill of Gu Hama. Fewer women died in child birth and less children died of the more easily treated ailments.

A lone horse trod the poorly kept trail into the village, its rider leading it straight at Gu Hama as he worked on the wooden gate. It's rider raised one hand and let out a long whistle. Junren Ru hailed his cousin.

Hama set down his hammer and nails. "Ru! You are back so soon? I had expected the storm to keep you longer."

A large, wicked smile stretched across Ru's face as he dismounted his horse. He, like Gu Hama, was a man of Ba and he never went anywhere without his weapon. "Duyu is not so far from here as we thought cousin. Not if you are unafraid to trod new paths through the mountain range."

Both men were well past their youth and the scars on their faces and the roughness of their hands suggested that they had not led comfortable lives.

Gu Hama took the reins of Ru's horse and waited for his cousin to dismount. Junren Ru slid off the horse's back and pulled his spear from the saddle. Hama scratched at his short beard and spoke. "Was your pilgrimage successful? What do you think of Duyu and what of the other Ba clans that reside in the surrounding country?"

"Cousin," Ru began, unafraid of speaking openly. "the countryside is quiet. If Xiang Yu and Liu Bang are building armies to wage war upon one another, little but rumor has penetrated Nanyang. No brigand group has organized to any real degree, leaving only governors Zao and Gen with any real armed force."

"Gen He is a man of Ba as well. I know little of Zao Xuan, save that he seized the city shortly after Imperial city burned." He stroked at his short black beard. "Do you think they will seek to expand their rule, cousin?"

"No." Ru shook his head, but he had doubts. "They do not seem interested with anything far from the roads, but I have seen their armies. All of our warriors combined would only fill one half of one of their tents. If one such army comes, we cannot repel it."

Gu Hama ran his fingers through his beard as he thought. He did not want war, but he also did not wish to see that which he had spent so long building be trampled under the foot of a small minded despot.

"We shall gather the men, my cousin, and prepare them for war. Any who enter these lands seeking that which is not theirs shall pay bitterly." He nodded his head as he spoke, growing pleased with his words. "The rites have been performed and the omens look good, but should the spirits prove to be fickle we will fight. We have both led men before. We can rally the other clans to us. We shall wait, and watch what happens in the lands surrounding ours."

[Crim]

During an intermission of his duties at Chu, Xiang Jun - Chief Aide to the Hegemon - selected five of his men to accompany him to desolate Nanyang. Dressed in plain clothes that do not betray their affiliation to Chen, the six riders packed just enough provisions to last them the journey to and from this province southwest of Chu. Jun had no special reason for visiting this territory, although the men he had brought joked amongst themselves that the Swordbearer was on a special mission to collect or purchase the new additions to the already impressive Harem of Xiang Yu. "Women," one of the rascals said. "can bring the King to his knees."

Xiang Jun laughed heartily at the remark. In the few months that he had been in Chu, the youngster have developed a strong bond with these handpicked soldiers. He didn't mind that the men had attempted to mock the King behind his back. After all, these soldiers are as devout a soldier to Xiang Yu as Jun is to the King. The Swordbearer believed that he is in good company.

Arriving at Nanyang, the group settled into one of the available taverns in the province. They asked for some wine and ordered generous portions of choiced meats. While his escorts enjoyed the break, Xiang Jun scanned the area, hoping to find something of note in the vicinity.

[Charlemagne]

There was an immediate tension in the air when the men enterred the tavern that was quickly disolved when the keeper realized that the men were strangers. As the soldiers took their seat unmolested and placed their orders, the regular tavern bustle resumed. It was only a few moments before the comely waitress returned with their food and offered them a genial smile. If she overheard any of their conversation, she ignored it politely, moving along and not lingering in the affairs of those who were not men she recognized as regulars. The woman moved gracefully away, picking up empties around the room and circling back to replace glasses amid the catcalls of men whom she had known for a half decade.

When the door to the tavern opened again, a man in ornate armor stood in the opening, the sunlight at his back bouncing off his chestplate and casting flared speckles on each of the tavern's walls. The room went silent as he enterred, and the owner came from around the bar to clear him a table, as the warrior and his escort enterred amid the hushed tones of the regular patrons. When they arrived at the cleared table, the man in the armor ran his finger across the top and examined it. Snorting to himself, he sat with his men and waited as the owner personally brought a tray of drinks over.

The girl, meanwhile, had returned to Xiang Jun's table with a tray of fresh drinks. As she set them down on the table and retrieved the previous round of glasses, she caught Jun's eye as he looked past her to the newcomers. "Zao Xing," she whispered. "He's the governor's brother. And he likes trouble." She smiled sweetly to the warrior again, and then shrugged weakly before taking her tray back behind the bar, and disappearing into a side room, where the sounds of sloshing water revealed her to be washing discarded dishes for the afternoon meal.

[Crim]

Xiang Jun returned the lady's smile with his own and kept his gaze at her graceful figure. When she had disappeared into the side room, the soldiers from Chen mocked their young lord and urged him to follow her inside. At that instance, Jun stood up and motioned towards the woman, only to halt after a few steps before shifting his gaze back to his men. "We must prove that we are better men than this town's finest," he sheepishly remarked, trying his best to gain the attention of the troublemaker Zao Xing. "A tavern is not the rightful place for such a fine creature. I suppose men from this province do not recognize beauty as well as we do. How disappointing."

Shortly thereafter, Jun decided to return to the table. Every now and then, the Yangcheng native would scan the tavern and observe the governor's brother as inconspicuously as possible. Celebrating a toast, the youngster said, "Their loss, our gain. Let us drink to that!"

[Charlemagne]

Hearing the words of the man from Chu, the girl's face flushed with embarrassment. She did her best to look incospicuous, and retreated to the smokehouse outside. Elsewhere around the tavern, everything was suddenly quiet, as patrons glanced between the two groups of men. For a long while all was quiet, and the man in the armor said nothing.

Finally, one of his men rose from his seat as though to answer the challenge, but his commander motioned for him to retake his chair. Zao Xing finished his drink casually, before setting the glass down and standing up. He snapped his fingers soundly, and two of his men also rose. They followed the commander as he made his way to the back door of the tavern. The tavern keeper said nothing, as Zao Xing snapped his fingers again and the two men following turned and blocked the doorway. The armored man continued his way towards the smokehouse.

Suddenly realizing that there may be some kind of unsrupulous trouble brewing, the tavern owner glanced to Xiang Jun with a sour expression. He said nothing, but lowered his eyes and began to wipe down his countertop.

[Crim]

As members of Chu's elite, Jun's escorts smiled weakly at the turn of events but did not tense, tremble or worry about how they'd get out of this brewing predicament. They thought their young lord did a good job inciting some hostility from the locals. "It appears the King of Chu had found a worthy aide," one of them whispered, "A troublemaker like himself!"

Once again, Xiang Jun smiled at the remark. He downed his cup and stood up, taking Xiang Yu's sword with him. Slowly, the Swordbearer motioned towards the smokehouse, confronting the two guards upon reaching their station. "Make way," Jun demanded. "My damsel awaits."

At that juncture, the other men from Chu simply looked on. One of them was about to stand and assist their officer when the most grizzled of the bunch ordered the former not to. It was Jun's initiation to the Chu Military, after all. "He already missed the Qin war," the old escort jokingly said. "Let the boy make up for it."

((Do you run 2 vs 1 duel?))

[Charlemagne]

The guards of Zao Xing blocking the door just smirked at the loud child from Chu, and drew their swords. Back at their table, the remaining three men moved to rise, but the five soldiers from Chu were quickly up and disuaded the trio from joining the fray. Jun looked determined to pass, and for a moment, be it stalling or otherwise, one of the men at the door tried to reason with him. "Listen, boy, haven't you done enough damage already? You're only gonna make things worse. If you interfere in the affairs of the governor, he's just gonna retalliate against this tavern. If you care about this girl, just let it go, before something far worse happens."

Xiang Jun however, was concerned with the immediate situation only. And in his estimation, the guards' refusal to move signified an end to the conversation. The Sword of Xiang Yu came about quickly, and without remorse, striking the speaking man first, and badly injuring his sword arm. His weapon clanged to the ground with the strong reverberation of steel on stone. The second man brought his weapon to bear on the young officer from Chu, but Xiang Jun easily parried his blow before running him through with his counter. The talkative soldier was bent low, attempting to recover his weapon when Jun turned and put his boot squarrely into the man's temple, laying him flat. He was still breathing, but it was obvious that the fight was over for him.

Xiang Jun wasted no time making his way to the smokehouse, where small puffs of acrid fumes escaped through the partially open door. When he opened the door, he caught a glimpse of the woman dodging Zao Xing around hanging racks of meat with a panicked expression. The man had a hold of her waitresses' apron and tugged forcefully, tearing the garment and spinning the girl to the floor as it came loose. Still oblivious to the presence of the young man, Zao Xing stalked towards the woman slowly.

[Crim]

The highly emotional youngster from Chu continued with his mischief as he scrambled to look for items he could throw at Zao Xing. Hoping to get the attention of what seemed to be an equally irrational opponent, Jun showered Zao Xing pitching insults that are best left unsaid. With Xiang Yu's sword pointed to his opponent, Jun beckoned his challenger to come forth.

((Tactics in.))

[Charlemagne]

Zao Xing stopped in his tracks at the catcalls, and slowly turned around, drawing his axe. "You just don't know when to quit, do you whelp?" The intimidating man from Huyang stalked back towards Xiang Jun, turning his weapon over in his hand menacingly. "I don't know where you came from, boy. Which is a problem, for I'll be at a loss for where to send your head!"

The older man pounced on Xiang Jun with deceptive speed and the axe caught the boy from Chu square in the gut, lifting and throwing him back through the smokehouse door with a crash, throwing the plank of wood so wide that it snapped off the hinges and flew aside in pieces. Remarkably, Jun managed to keep his grip on Xiang Yu's sword, though when he moved to stand he found his breath escaped him, and he was acutely aware of the metallic taste of blood in his mouth.

Pressing his advantage, Zao Xing stepped through the doorway and slung his axe in a quick follow up strike. Jun managed to get his sword up, hoping to knock the axe from the older man's hand, but couldn't avoid the blow, taking a small cut on the shoulder, and catching Xing in the calf with his sword, as he rolled himself out of the way.

Finally finding his feet, Xiang Jun squared off against the attacker again, spitting built up blood from the side of his mouth and sneering at Xing. "Gonna have to do better than that, old man. I don't die so easy," he barked, and Zao Xing hesitated a moment. After a moment, he pressed again, and the pair traded blows, mere glancing shots that did nothing to slow either combatant down. Jun finally thought he was finding his stride, and pressed back against his attacker, but his youth and exhuberance betrayed him. Xing was waiting patiently with his readied strike.

Jun came at the veteran, who casually sidestepped the boy, trading a scrape from Xiang Yu's Sword in exchange for position. As the young man from Chu slid by, Zao Xing hefted his axe in both hands, and took a mighty chop at his enemy, determined to fell him like one of the tall trees that were native to Nanyang. The blade struck forcefully, and an audible crack from Xiang Jun's back was heard as he went sprawling and lifeless to the ground. The sword of Xiang Yu slid away, and the boy lay motionless for a long moment.

Snorting, Zao Xing shook his head and turned back to his prey in the smokehouse. "Well, my sweet. Your young hero is dead. And to the victor, the spoils." He made his way back through the room, cutting the slabs from their ropes, and denying the woman her obstacles to hide behind. His menacing grin drove a stake into the pit of her stomach, paralyzing the young woman with fear, and rendering her helpless. Xing grabbed her by the wrist, and hefted her to her feet.

"We aren't done here!" The unprobable sound of Xiang Jun's voice caused the man to spin around, releasing the girl, and catching Xiang Yu's Sword squarely in the side. Crimson liquid soon flowed from between the plate of his armor, and he looked down at the wound with utter disbelief. "Last chance, friend. Take your men and leave, or die where you stand." Xiang Jun felt his knee buckle, and his whole body ached, but his face showed firm resolve.

Zao Xing regarded the broken form of Xiang Jun with some amusement, despite the still bleeding wound at his side. "You just don't know when to quit, do you boy? You can't even lift that sword to fight. What is it going to take to make you go away?" The old man's eyes lit up at his own question, and he gave Jun and evil smirk. Turning, he waved his axe menacingly at the girl. "Sorry love. It was about fun, you know. But now your boyfriend has to suffer. What better way than for him to watch..."

Jun began to rage as the man spoke, and his legs, which had stiffened in even the short time that he had paused from the fight, roared their protest as he attempted to move toward his opponent. "I said, we aren't done here!" But despite Jun's taunts and demands to resume the fight, Xing ignored him, and lifted his axe toward the girl. The boy from Chu found the strength to lift his limp sword arm in response, and stumbled toward Zao Xing. "LEAVE HER ALONE!"

The Sword of Xiang Yu caught the older man, pierced his forearm, and yanked him around. The axe went skiddering across the floor, and came to a rest by the door. Jun pooled the last of his energy, brought the sword back around, and swang it wildly, as Zao Xing rocked back on his heels to avoid the blow. The boy spun himself into the ground, losing his grip on his sword, and crashing to the ground, slamming his head, and squinting his eyes against the pain. His enemy stepped over him, with a gloating expression. But as the man went to speak, Xiang Jun noticed a thin line of red appear across his throat.

Anything the man was planning on saying, only appeared as pink air bubbles, and Xiang Jun smiled in recognition of the man's fate. Calming his breath, the young boy watched with some satisfaction as Zao Xing reached for his throat and toppled over backwards. His thoughts were soon brought back to reality by the sounds of shuffling feet. The waitress was kneeling over him, her hands frozen, unsure of how badly injured Xiang Jun was, and not wishing to make things any worse.

"Are you alright," she asked? Her face showed genuine concern, and she used her torn apron to gently wipe blood from around his eyes. "I thought he had killed you..."

((Xiang Jun has suffered a 20 Might injury. Zao Xing's deceased body is adorned with +1 Armor.))

Bout 1:

Round 1:
Zao Xing HP: 90 Might: 90
Xiang Jun HP: 84 Might: 84

Zao Xing fails to hit with the attack!
Xiang Jun attempts a dual shot at Zao Xing.
Xiang Jun's dual shot on Zao Xing fails.
Xiang Jun fails to hit with the attack!

Round 2:
Zao Xing HP: 90 Might: 90
Xiang Jun HP: 84 Might: 84

Zao Xing unleashes a critical blow!
Xiang Jun injured during attack - reducing might by 9
Zao Xing lands the attack.(9)
Xiang Jun fails in an attempt to disarm Zao Xing.
Xiang Jun lands the attack.(4)

Round 3:
Zao Xing HP: 86 Might: 90
Xiang Jun HP: 75 Might: 75

Zao Xing attempts to land a crippling strike on Xiang Jun!
Zao Xing's crippling strike fails to land.
Zao Xing lands the attack.(7)
Xiang Jun lands the attack.(5)

End of Bout 1:
Zao Xing HP: 81 Might: 90
Xiang Jun HP: 68 Might: 75

Bout 2:

Round 1:
Zao Xing HP: 81 Might: 90
Xiang Jun HP: 68 Might: 75

Zao Xing fails to hit with the attack!
Xiang Jun attempts to intimidate Zao Xing.
Xiang Jun succeeds!
Xiang Jun lands the attack.(5)

Round 2:
Zao Xing HP: 76 Might: 78
Xiang Jun HP: 68 Might: 75

Zao Xing lands the attack.(7)
Xiang Jun lands the attack.(6)

Round 3:
Zao Xing HP: 70 Might: 78
Xiang Jun HP: 61 Might: 75

Zao Xing unleashes a critical blow!
Xiang Jun injured during attack - reducing might by 11
Zao Xing lands the attack.(11)
Xiang Jun lands the attack.(4)

End of Bout 2:
Zao Xing HP: 66 Might: 78
Xiang Jun HP: 50 Might: 64

Bout 3:
Xiang Jun may only intimidate once in a duel.

Round 1:
Zao Xing HP: 66 Might: 78
Xiang Jun HP: 50 Might: 64

Zao Xing lands the attack.(8)
Zao Xing fails to deflect Xiang Jun's attack.
Xiang Jun fails to hit with the attack!

Round 2:
Zao Xing HP: 66 Might: 78
Xiang Jun HP: 42 Might: 64

Zao Xing lands the attack.(7)
Xiang Jun attempts to land a crippling strike on Zao Xing!
Zao Xing injured during attack - reducing might by 5
Xiang Jun lands the attack.(5)

Round 3:
Zao Xing HP: 61 Might: 73
Xiang Jun HP: 35 Might: 64

Zao Xing attempts to land a crippling strike on Xiang Jun!
Zao Xing's crippling strike fails to land.
Zao Xing lands the attack.(7)
Xiang Jun attempts to land a crippling strike on Zao Xing!
Xiang Jun's crippling strike fails to land on a vital point.
Xiang Jun lands the attack.(5)

End of Bout 3:
Zao Xing HP: 56 Might: 73
Xiang Jun HP: 28 Might: 64

Bout 4:

Round 1:
Zao Xing HP: 56 Might: 73
Xiang Jun HP: 28 Might: 64

Zao Xing unleashes a critical blow!
Zao Xing lands the attack.(11)
Xiang Jun lands the attack.(4)

Round 2:
Zao Xing HP: 52 Might: 73
Xiang Jun HP: 17 Might: 64

Zao Xing attempts to land a crippling strike on Xiang Jun!
Zao Xing's crippling strike fails to land.
Zao Xing lands the attack.(5)
Xiang Jun unleashes a critical blow!
Zao Xing injured during attack - reducing might by 9
Xiang Jun attempts a combination attack on Zao Xing.
Xiang Jun's combination attack on Zao Xing fails.
Xiang Jun lands the attack.(9)

Round 3:
Zao Xing HP: 43 Might: 64
Xiang Jun HP: 12 Might: 64

Zao Xing unleashes a critical blow!
Zao Xing attempts to land a crippling strike on Xiang Jun!
Zao Xing's crippling strike fails to land.
Zao Xing lands the attack.(9)
Xiang Jun unleashes a critical blow!
Zao Xing injured during attack - reducing might by 9
Checking to see if Officer 2 dies
OFFICER 2 DIES
Xiang Jun lands the attack.(9)

End of Bout 4:
Zao Xing HP: 34 Might: 55
Xiang Jun HP: 3 Might: 64

((In the luckiest duel I have seen in a long, LONG, time, Xiang Jun slays Zao Xing.))