; Feng Shui character ;  -*- outline -*-
; $Id: jian.txt,v 1.4 2000/10/16 15:49:41 yandros Exp $

 Jian Xuesheng (Ji'an Xue'she_eng), wu jen monster hunter ninja mercenary

* mechanics

  Jian uses the Magic Cop template, and is from 69AD.  The template
  seems to be a bit confused; it is based in juncture `any', and
  includes weapon picks for all junctures, but the skill list seems to
  assume modern/supermodern guns.  Accordingly, I swapped `Martial
  Arts' for `Guns' and bought a rank of `Guns' with my free points.
  Similarly, I translated 2 gun schticks into 2 Fu schticks (although
  one of them, signature weapon, could come from either).
.
* Stats

  Body      8  |  Mov 8  Str 8  Con 8  Tgh 8
  Chi       2  |  For 2  Fu 2   Mag 8
  Mind      5  |  Cha 5  Int 5  Per 5  Wil 5
  Reflexes  8  |  Agl 8  Dex 8  Spd 8
.
* Skills

  Martial Arts  [Agl]  +7  =13
  Info/Occult   [Int]  +7  12
  Police        [Per]  +3   8
  Sorcery       [Mag]  +5  =12
  Medicine      [Mag]  +4  12
  Guns          [Dex]  +1   9
  Intrusion     [Agl]  +2  11
.
* Weapons

  katana (signature weapon) STR+4+3 = 15
  shuriken 5 (keep?)
.
* Schticks

  Sorcery: Summoning {p97}
  Sorcery: Fertility {p94}
  Fu: Signature Weapon (Path of the Selective Master) {p81}/ Guns {p62}
   Fu: Prodigious Leap (Path of the Leaping Storm) {p87} OR
   Fu: Friend of Darkness (Path of the Shadow's Companion) {p78}
.
* Story

  [Note: although I much prefer these in first person, this particualr
  story works much better in third person.]

  Jian is a failure.  At least, that's what he thinks of himself.

  Jian isn't the name his father gave him, of course; not that that
  matters.  It is fitting that he should not use his father's name.
  Thus will his family be spared at least some measure of disgrace.
  By now, they must believe me dead; let them continue to think so.  

  When I was still a boy, I was talented, yes, and proud.  No more.
  For most of my childhood years I worked with Jian Xiongdi, a local
  hero.  Deft of touch, keen of mind, and strong of heart, Jian
  Xiongdi was a true champion of the people in a way that I will never
  match.  Distinguishing himself in the war (wars were not uncommon
  then), he returned to find our town beleagured by monsters.  Living
  in the foothills as we did, stories of nearby monsters were older
  than anyone could remember, and there were certain parts of the
  mountains that living creatures did not visit, but nevr before had
  the village been threatened like this.  Farms were attacked, fields
  were destoryed, and livestock was killed.  Some of the farmers
  reported strange, shadowy or firey shapes, and some of the farmers
  were simply never seen nor heard from again.  Something had to be
  done.  Somebody had to do something.  Jian was that somebody.

  We were never bothered by the monsters again.  Also, we never heard
  from Jian Xiongdi again. 

  After that, I took up with a different master, of a different sort.
  Xian Tze-Tzu was a noble, almost regal man, and a powerful sorcerer.
  The years I spent with him were tumultuous, filled with strange
  wonders and inhuman drudgery.  I was servant, apprentice, and
  experiment -- Tze-Tzu was attempting something new, `monster
  slayer', and I was that attempt.

  It was an exciting time, learning sorcery, melding it to the
  swordwork that Jian had attempted to teach me.  Sorcery was the
  least of the treasures I discovered at the side of Tze-Tzu, however.
  The greatest treasure was his neice, Suong Mei.  Hers was a beauty
  that moved lesser men to bad poetry.  Her smile moved my soul.  I
  wonder if she ever knew that I existed.  

  When she disappeared, there was no question that I would go after
  her.  As it turns out, Xian wasn't trying to stop me, but rather to
  warn me.  These weren't normal kidnappers, but some sort of
  supernatural agents, sent to teach Tze-Tzu a lesson.  Tze-Tzu handed
  me a small bundle, and a rice-paper painting.  I recognized it as a
  portrait of Suong Mei done in his own hand.  As I bowed to recieve
  the gift, Tze-Tzu said:  
  
  ``I think I shall never see you again.  If you return with her, you
  have my blessing.''

  What do you know, he's been right so far....  
.
** quotes:

 Life is honed by, death, its opposite.  We call this evolution.

 I am not where I was.
.
** names

     She_ngsho^u	novice
     Xue'tu'		apprentice
     Xue'she_ng		student
     di`di`		brother (younger)
     Xio_ngdi`_		brother (elder)
     Xue'zhe^		scholar
.
** party

 James, `Goat'.  beggar in loose clothing
 Takashi Ran .  9/10 year old kid.  japanese accent
 Ronny Jarret.  Dark haired beauty in jeans, t-shirt, and STP cap
.