The Zodiac: Sign-ups

[SALSAlys]

RIGHT THEN.

This is an RP that failed in the Underground, despite a good start, but I got attached to it and I really would like it to take off.

Now. The setting is ancient, mythical China, with a deliberately fluid time period and many achronisms likely to be found. While the average peasant won't be witnessing magic or sorcery, it is not completely unheard of for the supernatural to occur. For those of you who have read Barry Hughart's books (like The Bridge of Birds, The Story of the Stone, or Eight Skilled Gentlemen), I'll be trying for his sort of vibe. For those of you who have no clue what I'm talking about, I mean that this will be romanticized yet humorous, so be ready to take some things with a grain of salt.

Also: I will be using a great many myths and fables, pulling mostly from China, but with a little bit of other cultures tossed in.

As for the action?

The Year of the Rat is being ushered in, but something is going wrong in the temples. Celestial disorder seems likely, and the PCs will be gathered to try to discover what the bleep's wrong.

As for characters... I have no hard or fast rules concerning what they may or may not be; they can be cooks, peasants, sword-dancers, mercenaries, merchants, foreigners, whatever.... though I discourage characters having mystical abilities unless you have a REALLY good backstory or something for them. If you can, please also give the general area of China they are from (if they are Chinese), so that I may tweak in relevant tales.

There will also be another occupation known as sword-dancing... basically, very skilled ceremonial dancers who move in rhythm to drummers. Depending on the skill of their drummer, they can be given an advantage in their craft. Sword-dancers must move in rhythm to the drums, and then leap into the air, performing a sequence of cuts about their body and then, if they have time before landing, striking at their opponent. Not for injury, mind you; it is considered very poor dancing to do so. Instead, they are more likely to trim an opponent's hair or clip their sleeve.

Also. This WILL BE WINDOWSYS. Other words, d16s are allowed. I should make a note though: Rolling a 6 won't always guarantee success. Rolling an 8 won't always guarantee failure. I'll be using difficulty classes, and stuff. Other than d16s, it will be a bit more like Windows, actually... though with some traits I'm adding. (And d12 is still the 'average' for a skill or trait.)

Added traits: Fortune (aka Luck) and Purity. Purity WILL be important in some areas. Either high or low Purity scores, as in purity of heart. In other words, a prostitute could have a very high purity score, if well roleplayed.

Additionally: If your character is wealthy or has armour or other nifty inventory, speak up. I may assign dice values to stuff to determine it.

Since I plan this to be a pretty large RP, I'll be upgrading your character's skills and stuff at times over in the Character Closet.

And fun last note: If your character has a Chinese name that means something (Like, oh, Number Ten Ox) then gimme that in addition to their translated name, if you know both.

Now, I will give a sample NPC as an example of what sort of submission I'd like.

And contact me via 'la chibi' on AIM to gimme questions.
Name: Lu Yu

Description: A tall, thin elderly man with dark skin and a wispy white beard. His eyes are deep-set.

Background: A peasant to the bone. Too weak to plow now, but skilled with his hands, and became the village "Grandfather" for the children, telling them stories and carving small toys for them. In his youth, he travelled to major cities and distant parts of China.

Traits:
Strength: d20
Agility: d30
Dexterity: d8
Health: d30
Knowledge: d8
Perception: d10
Fortune: d10
Purity: d10

Skills:
Storytelling: d8
Carving Miniatures: d10
Farm experience: d10
Cooking: d12
Bargaining: d10
Swimming: d30
Making snares: d10
Nap at will (able to ALWAYS get sleep!): d6
Being unnoticed: d12

A bit more background will be given later, though much of it will be provided in the RP itself.

[wkz]

Finally! Living in a somewhat chinese speaking country halfway across the world is now a bonus!

With the number of characters you want, I'm assuming this is a board RP. I'll post my character here as soon as I can think him/her up. Also, any translations needed, just ask me.

PS: In ancient China, deilects were so horrible that a person from one district would not be able to understand one from another district, except by the written word (which is also rare enough, given the literacy rate). What's your "cure" for that?.


Edited by: [url=http://p068.ezboard.com/brpgww60462.showUserPublicProfile?gid=wkz@rpgww60462>wkz</A] at: 7/27/04 9:21 pm

[SALSAlys]

Yes, board RP.

AND ALSO:

No official 'cure'. XP Assume everyone speaks Mandarin/Cantonese, though some more obscure dialects may be thrown in. But your character must be able to understand at least limited amounts of those.

[Uncle Pervy]

Name: Lo Pan

Description: A mid-sized, tanned man in ragged clothing, with fairly unkempted hair and the startings of a beard; his most notable feature being a wide-brimmed hat.

History: Lo Pan was born into a the household of a minor, but successful, merchant in a rural town of the Canton region. He lived a fairly charmed life with loving parents and all his basic needs met. However, there was something odd about Lo Pan.

Perhaps he was born under a lucky star; perhaps his ancestors were particularly pleased with his family, perhaps Heaven simply smiled upon him. No one knows, but Lo Pan always had a propensity for good luck. When he went exploring in the woods, he often found little wonders; be they a friendly stray kitten for him to befriend, or perhaps a lost coin or a nice climbing tree. The few times his friends enticed him to play dice, he general doubled his money, and never seemed to lose any.

When his home burned down, consuming both his mother and his father, Lo Pan was able to survive unscathed, and the local fire brigade was able to save much of the wealth he has inherited. However, Lo Pan had no desire for it. He was aware of his apparent luck, and clearly to him, this was a sign he look his blessing for granted. Giving away all that he inherited, he donned the coarse clothing of a wandering Taoist, and left his home village, hoping to answer his gift of luck with appropriate piety.

Since then, he has been trying to learn how to live as a wanderer. Were it not for his fortune, he would surely be dead by now. As it is, he has never had a harder time in his life. While his will is strong, his flesh is sometimes weak; causing him to backslide into some of the more common pleasures he once took for granted.

Traits

Strength: d16
Agility: d12
Dexerity: D12
Health d12
Knowledge d12
Perception: D16
Fortune: D8
Purity: d10


Skills

Canton Region Trade: d12
General Education: d12
Gaming: D16
Geography: D16
Farming Methods: d16
Small Business Management: d12
Tao Te Ching: D16
Outdoorsmanship: d20
Devotions: D20 <p>
-------------------------------------
NebbieQ: After all, nothing says romance like fighting the forces of Cobra and Druggies with a Rocket Launcher of 80s Justice.</p>

[Shinigori V2]

Lys knows she wants Lawrence back ;_; <p>

---

<div style="text-align:center"></div>
<div style="text-align:center">Why Barius has no family reunions.</div></p>

[JoshuaDurron]

Name: Mu-Li Chen

Toad Claws, Rock Salt and Ginseng. These three ingredients, when properly mixed, form the medicine necessary to treat a high fever. And this is only one of the many, many medicines to be aquired from a doctor. After all, the duty of a doctor is to treat and heal the sick, from all things that ail them.

Mu-Li, of the Chen family, is simply one in a long line of doctors. His father was a doctor, his grandfather was a doctor, his great-grandfather... well, you get the idea. Perhaps it is simply a sign of ill fate that Mu-Li was born into a family where he HAD to be a doctor. His family would accept no other profession from their only son.

Mu-Li in time became resigned to his fate, so far as to be willing to study and, due to some natural affinity perhaps, do well. However, he never liked his studies, or how they were forced upon him, and so he would often rebel. He would sneak out at night and run about town, loosing money in gambling, getting drunk, and patronizing the occasional "working woman."

In time, and much to the surprise of all involved, Mu-Li's mother had a second son. She was, by all reconning, past the usual age of childbearing, and Mu-Li was already 19. The second child was born a son. Mu-Li's ill fortune was confirmed. The nature of the scandals Mu-Li was involved in had been overlooked up until now, as Mu-Li was the only one to carry on the family name. But now, there was another son of the Chen family. Mu-Li's father disowned his eldest son, declaring the younger would inherit everything, and turning Mu-Li out of his comfortable house and lifestyle.

The one thing that has kept Mu-Li alive since then is his knowledge of medicine, since then he has been able to establish a small and comfortable practice that brings him a fair ammount of money, occasionally teaching Tai Chi classes to improve the health of his patrons. However, Mu-Li really desires something more, wishing for the opportunity to be something other than a doctor. He travels to other villages frequently, officially to visit patients and study medicine (which he does) but mostly hoping to run into something exciting, or perhaps to visit a woman or two without risking the wrath of his most dedicated patrons...

Traits:

Strength: d12
Agility: d12
Dexterity: d10
Health: d12
Knowledge: d8
Perception: d10
Fortune: d16
Purity: d20

Skills:

Anatomy: d10
Acupuncture: d10
Tai Chi: d12
"Mystic" Medicines (perscriptions, knowing ingredients, herbology, ect): d12
Regular Medicine (first aid, setting bones, ect): d12
Preparing Food: d16
General Alchemy: d16
Literacy: d16
Caligraphy: d20
Legend and Myth: d20
Swimming: d20 <p>

---

"Crazy is good." - Luffy, One Piece
</p>Edited by: [url=http://p068.ezboard.com/brpgww60462.showUserPublicProfile?gid=joshuadurron>JoshuaDurron</A] at: 8/15/04 3:14 pm

[wkz]

Wong Wen Yong
(Words Translation: Wong (SurName)/King + Educated/Language/Classic/Cultured + Forever)


Appearance: A Taoist priest garb, complete with funny yellow hat, yellow cloak (complete with Ying Yang symbol), "ice-cream" bell and coin-sword (a sword made out of coins tied together with red chicken-blood-soaked string. Mostly used for ceremonies, effective against dead/undead under certain conditions)


Traits:

Strength: d10
Agility: d16
Dexterity: d8
Health: d16
Knowledge: d12
Perception: d12
Fortune: d16
Purity: d12


Skills:

Anatomy: d10
Necromancy: d16
Talismens and Symbols Making : d16
Talismens and Symbols Identifying : d20
Burial Rituals: d10
Makeup (for the dead): d12

Taoism Theories and Concepts: d20
Literacy : d16

Sword Use: d30
Spear Use: d30 (just to rephrase the term "minimal training")

Rice/Grain/Wheat Appraisal: d12
Farm work: d10
Farm equipment care: d16
Flute: d16


Background: Wen Yong started out life as a farmer's son. From the time he could help, he was working in the small but fertile land, working from dawn to dusk (there's always something to do in a farm). He doesn't mind the backbreaking constant drugery, its all he had known. Work in the day, gossiping and flute playing in the evenings, life's simple, but enjoyable.

That changed at age 12, when a general from another district invaded. The local Lord conscripted all able-bodied males from anywhere they could be found, including Wen Yong. The conscripts were herded to the city, where they received minimal training. That was Wen Young's first time in the city, and a wanderlust he did not know at the time set root...

Long story short, the Lord was "tricked by his own smartness" when his ambushing forces was ambushed in turn. Wen Yong's unit, "lightly touched" in the conflict as it were, still lost half their numbers to arrows. He still shudders at memories of that day in the field, surrounded by death. Almost every last man who was still alive was captured by the invaders.

Ever a compassionate young man, Wen Yong balked at the fact so many people would be dying in the open, and not getting a comfortable final rest. He argued with the invaders and managed to get permission for himself and some others to burn the dead. Buring was definately not your standard Chinese funeral ritual (which prefers burial), but there were just too many bodies to handle.

While handling the distasteful task, often at swordpoint, Wen Yong met Fu Zhu Shen for the first time. The closest thing you could call Zhu Shen's job in the west is a mix of Priest-Mortician-Necromancer. What he actually does is perform the grim ceremonies to prepare and bury the dead, and to create talismens and weave spells to control and quiet the restless dead. Wen Yong managed to, after much persuasion, persuade Zhu Shen to stay and help.

After seeing all his former comarades buried, Zhu Shen did a surprising thing: he persuaded the invading army's guards he needed Wen Yong as an apprentice. Some coin changed hands (apparently collected from the dead themselves), and in no time at all, Wen Yong was a free man. When Wen Yong started thanking Zhu Shen, the Taoist said: "I saw the compassion in you, dealing with both the living and the dead. I give you a choice: return to where ever you call home, or become my apprentice for real, wondering the lands and giving peace to the dead."

After considering it for a few hours, Wen Yong choose to follow Zhu Shen. He had seen too much of the world, and is now too curious to be satisfied in the too-quiet farm. Not only that, he found that he liked the job of ensuring someone had a comfortable last rest, morbid as the job was.

Now? It had been quite some time since the apprentice buried the master, after a ceremony on an angry spirit went bad. Wong Wen Yong now wanders the lands, eeking out a living by following death, while trying to puzzle out and self-study from books handed down from Zhu Shen...



======================================
OOC: So I like someone with some amount of somthing close to magic.... sue me....

Possible translations for the other characters' names
------------------------------------------------------------------
Mu-Li Chen, or in the Chinese way of writing: Chen Mu Li
Chen(surname)/City/Fortress + Wood or Sight + Li (distance)/Inner-Inward
------------------------------------------------------------------
Lo Pan (no surname? both does not sound like any of the 100 odd Chinese surnames floating around, maybe its in a dialect other than Mandrain...)
Lo(?) + Stable/Like a rock
No words in Mandrian sounding close to Lo.. unless you want the meaning of "ah" or "err..." in your name... if you want to change, suggestions below:
Luo = Appear/extending out of or Fall
Lou = Leak(ing) or Hug
Lu = Reveal or Record or Combined
------------------------------------------------------------------

Note:
"/" denotes same word, different meanings and "+" means the next word. I'll use "or" for choices between similar sounding words (all translations in Mandrain)





Edited by: [url=http://p068.ezboard.com/brpgww60462.showUserPublicProfile?gid=wkz@rpgww60462>wkz</A] at: 7/30/04 7:12 am

[Blaze Yamato Spirit]

Jia Li. 'nuff said. <p><div style="text-align:center">
---


Scribed
</div></p>

[That damned Sage]

Cho Gojo. We want the old crew back. >:

[NebulaQueen]

Name: Li Wang Jun

Description: A muscular, well built young woman, wearing worn-looking peasant clothes. She'd be rather pretty, if not for the dirt.

Background: Jun was born in a farming village in the north, to your average peasant family. At first things seemed normal for the little girl, but as she got older, strange things started to happen. First, a few things would break when she was around. Then, a few things would get lost. But, as time went on, these coincidences seemed to show one thing-Jun had a streak of bad luck.

While it was irksome, it was still somewhat tolerable-keep her away from the more fragile pottery, and everything would be fine. However, by the time she was a teenager, it had gotten to be near intolerable. The farm equipment would break, the oxen would break free, and it was getting harder and harder for her family to grow crops...soon rumors began to spread that she didn't merely have bad luck; instead, it seemed that Jun was cursed.

Not knowing what else to do, her family set up a meeting with a matchmaker. While they couldn't cure her daughter's problem, they could at least make it someone else's problem instead of theirs. However, it was nearly impossible to find a suitor. Months passed, and still no results.

However, about a year later, another match was found. While the village of the groom was rather far away, both families still agreed to the marriage. Plans were made, and a few months later, Jun left her home.

Things went...surprisingly well. Only minor annoyances occured during the trip, as opposed to full blown catastrophes. And when she finally met her in-laws, and her future husband seemed to be rather pleasant. All that was left was the wedding dinner, and everything would be set.

As luck would have it, the groom, Li Fei, choked on a piece of chicken during the meal. He died that night.

However, the family took pity on Jun, and instead of sending her back, they took her in. While she was still rather unfortunate, she made up for this with hard work and dedication. She stayed for about a year, until hard times began to fall on her new home. While it is unknown whether or not she was to blame, she did make a handy scapegoat, and eventually left.

Now, she's making her way to the city of Peking, hoping to find a new home, or at least something to eat and a place to sleep under.

Traits:
Strength: d10
Agility: d16
Dexterity: d16
Health: d12
Knowledge: d20
Perception: d10
Fortune: d20
Purity: d8

Skills:
Farming: d10
Cooking: d10
Folklore: d12
City Knowledge: d16
Ettiquette: d16
Danger Sense: d12
Hoe Combat: d16
Literacy: d30 (can't read a thing)
Swimming: d20
<p>

---

<span style="font-size:xx-small;">
*Megaman sounds like a little girl*-Uncle Pervy, on the Voice Acting in MM8</span></p>Edited by: [url=http://p068.ezboard.com/brpgww60462.showUserPublicProfile?gid=nebulaqueen>NebulaQueen</A] at: 8/15/04 3:01 pm

[darkknight61189]

Hey, I'm interested in signing up for this RP, but could perhaps direct me in the direction of a site that would explain WINDOWSYS to me, as I'm not familiar with it. Thank you in advance.

EDIT: This is what I've written so far:

Name: Wang Xuai Liu (Nickname: Xiao To) [Wang- Surname, also means king. Xuai Liu- a phrase that means running water. Xiao To-

a phrase that means a theif.]

Description: A relatively small and slender man, with hands that have become accustomed to picking locks, hawk-like eyes, and a

sharp mind. He has been trained to slip in and out of places unnoticed, but was trained with a moral code. Usually wears a black

cloak, and under it tight black garb, like what you would visualize ninja would wear. Carries a holster full of shuikens on his right

side and kunais on his left. Occasionally known to carry a katana, although is usually only for big missions, and is then given to a

poor family after the mission.

Background: Wang Xuai Liu is the eldest of four sons and one daughter. He was the child of a well known man in the village, and,

although he there was no such titl in the village, he was considered to be the "Chief" of the village. One day, though, a rich and

wealthy man came to the village. The night of his arrival, many priceless heirlooms were stolen, and when people caught wind of

this, they began to frantically search for the theif. The next day, when Wang Xuai Liu returned home, he found the wealthy man in

his room, stashing the stolen heirlooms under Liu's bed. Before he could catch him, htough, the wealthy man escaped. Liu tried

fruitlessly to get the heirlooms out of his room, but beofre he could, he was caught by his father. So shamed, his family disowned

him, and he was forced to wander.

A few months after his banishment, he found a school for ninja. He lived there for five and a half years, learning the delicate art of

ninjitsu, and while he was there he made a vow. He would find the wealthy man and reclaim his name. He also adopted the

nickname Xiao To, the theif. After leaving the ninja training school, he set out, robbing from the filthy rich, and giving the majority

to the poor, only keeping enough to keep him alive until his next plunder.

After three years, he was wanted by the aristocrats of over five hundred villages, big and small. Then, one day, he over heard at a

pub that there was a wealthy man much like the one that visited his village living in the next village to the east. The man said that

the wealthy gentleman was planning on goign to Shanghai to sell the antiques he collected. From that day on, he has been

tracking the man from one village to the next, province after province, hoping to one day clear his name.

All I need is the info for WINDOWSYS. Again, thank you in advance. <p>_____________
There are three kinds of people in this world...</p>Edited by: [url=http://p068.ezboard.com/brpgww60462.showUserPublicProfile?gid=darkknight61189>darkknight61189</A]&nbsp; at: 8/4/04 9:34 pm

[FinsterDieTragik]

His name is Li,he is called the lion who cannot roar.A middle aged sword dancer with black hair and eyes.He was very skilled,and boasted before and after fights of his prowess.Until an angered opponent broke the code of sword dancers and struck to kill him.

The sword opened his throat and his opponent swore it was an accident.His opponent would never be allowed to dance with blades again.

Li would never speak again.A doctor managed to save his life,but his boasts would never again be heard.

Many would expect Li to be furious with his dishonorable opponent.Li was only angry with himself.If he had been more skilled he would have blocked,or danced aside and cut his opponents hair.

He rededicated himself to his craft,perhaps the gods had become wary of his boasting and allowed him to be silenced,but if he had been more skilled he could have denied them.

Being mute has humbled him,but Li retains some of his arrogance.He travels now,competing wherever he finds a brother of the blade.He sometimes wonders if his sword should be used for a higher purpose.

But soon enough the drums are calling,and the dance begins again.


(I too need a windowsys sight link please :D )

Edit - k here are stats

Strength - d12
Agility - d8
Dexterity - d12
Health -d12
Knowledge -d16
Perception -d10
Fortune -d20
Purity -d12

Skills -

Sword dancing -d10
Knowledge of land and places -d16
Reading-d30
Patience-d8
Fame-d16
Temple knowledge-d20
Affinity with children-d16



Edited by: [url=http://p068.ezboard.com/brpgww60462.showUserPublicProfile?gid=finsterdietragik@rpgww60462>FinsterDieTragik</A] at: 8/6/04 8:24 pm

[SALSAlys]

Windosys, as Pervy uses it. That also contains a link to the original Window. Keep in mind the traits I have outlined already.

Also, I'm not accepting any apps after this Sunday, August 8. I've got a lot of people already and I would like to limit this to 5-6 people; something managable. Even 6 would be a bit beyond what I'm hoping to manage, to tell the truth. 9.9;;

[Uncle Pervy]

Ninja school...

There is so much wrong with that... Dude. Naruto is not chinese history, nor are Ninja from or involved in Chinese Folklore. Ninja did not publically train people any more than the CIA accepts walk-ins. They are known as Ninja clans for a reason; they are related by blood. You are born into the clan you will die following it.

Well, at least he's not a necromancer. <p>
-------------------------------------
NebbieQ: After all, nothing says romance like fighting the forces of Cobra and Druggies with a Rocket Launcher of 80s Justice.</p>

[SALSAlys]

Righty-o. Players/characters are:

Pervy: Lo Pan
Ross: Jun Jia Li
Shini: Lawrence Falconer
Lorr: Mu-Li Chen
Neb: Li Wang Jun

So, yeah.

I've already C&Ped characer info for both Ross and Shini from the Underground to the Character Closet, so if there are any alterations or anything, just direct 'em to me.

Oh, and I would like everyone who's in to add in their swimming skill, plzkthx. Ross and Shini already have 'em for their chars. ^^;;

[Celeste of Elvenhame]

hey I missed this one before, Is there still room for players?
<p>---------------Celeste of Elvenhame ---------------

Aaron Lewis of Guildportal: On the up side though, most of the remaining bugs are genuinely evil, sentient beings that actively dodge attempts to thwart them.</p>

[SALSAlys]

'Fraid so. I really can't comfortably take any more people, and deadline's past. ^^;

[Celeste of Elvenhame]

/shrugs <p>---------------Celeste of Elvenhame ---------------

Aaron Lewis of Guildportal: On the up side though, most of the remaining bugs are genuinely evil, sentient beings that actively dodge attempts to thwart them.</p>

[wkz]

I guess my character got rejected :(
/shrugs...

[SALSAlys]

Now, all participants...

POST.

I just want to make sure you're all still alive; or at least that our Mr. Durron is, since I'm pretty sure about everyone else. If everyone's together, this may be starting before November, since I have most of my notes together and am just frantically typing things up, with modifications from the original campaign to accomodate the new mix of characters.

[JoshuaDurron]

Yo! ^_^;;

I know I'm not the best about posting from day to day, but I do check the boards at least five days out of the week! <p>

---

"Crazy is good." - Luffy, One Piece
</p>

[Blaze Yamato Spirit]

A post.

[NebulaQueen]

Again, a post <span style="font-size:xx-small;">it note</span> <p>

---

<span style="font-size:xx-small;">
*Megaman sounds like a little girl*-Uncle Pervy, on the Voice Acting in MM8</span></p>

[Shinigori V2]

*Dropkick* <p>

---

<div style="text-align:center"></div>
<div style="text-align:center">Why Barius has no family reunions.</div></p>

[Uncle Pervy]

ARGARBLESTEININGRATENLUKISTALHEINBURGOMEISTERN <p>
-------------------------------------
NebbieQ: After all, nothing says romance like fighting the forces of Cobra and Druggies with a Rocket Launcher of 80s Justice.</p>

[SALSAlys]

SO. I made a post. Everyone, respond.