"No, I'm not. You won't have to worry about that particular condition anymore, anyway." Roger gives Reggie a sidelong glance. "But perhaps it isn't the best to discuss this particular subject someplace more...private."

Janet stares at Roger curiously, then shrugs.  Her impish grin reasserts itself as she swings the giant head around.  "Well, then, off to Huang Li we go.  Sir, are you coming with us?"

"No," Reggie says.  "For the next time I see Huang Li I fear one of us will surely die.  He is no friend of mine and so if you wish to pursue an alliance it appears ours will need to dissolve." he gives a stilted bow to the two.

Janet bowed deeply to Reggie.  "I hope we can still be friends." she called.  With that, she helped Roger off to see Huang Li.

"It's a shame we might end up at cross-purposes." Roger says. "Until next time, then."

The pair of them cross through the streets of Celestial Alley, with Roger leaning on her the entire way. There's a considerable amount of smoke twisting through the streets, and a worrying amount of glow from south of the tracks.

"Oh, dear." Roger mutters. "Am I deceived, or does that look like Deadwood has caught fire?"

Janet looked around.  The oversized head she was carrying garnered a little attention, but most people were focused on the fire.  "I do believe you're right.  We should hurry through our report, so we can join the fire brigades"

"Indeed, though I will likely be little help in that." He sighs. "It's like Gomorra all over again. No doubt your purple-skinned friends were too zealous in their activities."

Janet nodded, and picked up the pace to Huang Li's.

The House of Heavenly Delights is a madhouse by the time Janet and Roger arrive. Heavies from the triads seem to be press-ganging laborers, miners, and even some of the whores into a rough bucket brigade, despite there being no fires on this side of the tracks as of yet. One of the goons bars the way into the building.

"So solly." He say curtly, clearly not sorry at all. "We crosed."

In reply to Triad Rascals (msg # 376):

Janet held up the bloody giant head.  "We're here to see Huang Li.  He would be most displeased if we did not talk to him right away."

The thug recoils from the ogre head, and steps away from the door. "Go." he says.

The place is pretty deserted, at least on the ground floor. As Janet and Roger head up the stairs towards the wide throne room, Janet can hear the babble of Chinese. All the voices sound familiar to her...Fei Ya-Haung must be here.

And indeed, he is. The sorcerer and his thugs stand before Huang Li's chair. The sorcerer looks over at the new arrival and cuts off in mid speech.

Huang Li looks over at the pair, his expression unreadable. "Ah. You have returned." He says. "What have you to report?"

Fei Ya-haung goes a little pale.

Janet tosses the ogre's head at Huang Li's feet.  "Your honorableness," she said, curtseying, "We found that Zhao Chen was summoning a powerful demon, one that would have terrorized all of Deadwood.  Unfortunately, it proved to be too strong for him, and ate him."

Janet turned to eye Fei Ya-Huang.  "Roger and I, using our western Conjury, managed to contain the demon.  At that time, some idiot sent men in to attack us, undoubtedly so they could seize the demon for themselves.  Like fools, they destroyed the magical wards, setting the beast loose again.  We had no choice but to kill it.  It was a terrible battle, shadows dueling men, men fighting the demon, bullets and swords alike breaking on the beast's hide.  But in the end, we prevailed.  "

Janet turned to the assembled people in the room.  "I am just a woman, and I know very little of Chinese customs.  But I know that the Chinese take protection very seriously.  This monster would have ravaged your homes, destroyed your businesses, and eaten your very souls.  You all owe Huang Li a debt of gratitude for sending us to kill this monster."

She turned back to Huang Li.  "Your honor, please accept the head of this beast as a trophy, a memento, of what we can accomplish together.  Western conjury and ingenuity, combined with Chinese willpower and might, can accomplish anything when our strengths are combined."  With that, she dropped into the lowest bow she could manage.

*NOW* I spend the Folk Hero card.  That should manage to give Huang Li much face while still showing everyone that we're the heroes of the hour. 

((OOC: I'm treating this as a Tale Telling attempt. Make a Persuasion check, -4 for the Fear Level. Good thing Janet has all those bonuses...))

Made it with a raise.  Took me a chip and a card, though

21:18, Today: Janet Weiss rolled 6 using 1d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 4. Extra Effort Card.

21:16, Today: Janet Weiss rolled 1 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1. Red Chip Bonus.

21:16, Today: Janet Weiss rolled 5,3 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,3. Persuasion.


Total result: 12
This message was last edited by the player at 04:21, Wed 02 Oct 2013.

"An interesting tale." Haung Li says, looking at Janet thoughtfully. "And you've even improved your bow. I am impressed. Assuming, of course, what you say is true."

He looks over at Fei Ya-Huang and barks something at him in Chinese. Ya-Huang replies, and the two exchange unfollowable banter back and forth for several minutes. But from the scowl on Huang Li's face and Fei Ya-Huang's increasingly desperate expression, the conversation does not seem to be turning out in the sorcerer's favor.

Finally, Huang Li makes a curt gesture, and Fei growls and stalks out of the throne room, his minions trailing behind him. "I will have my vengeance." He whispers to Janet as he and his goons pass.

Huang Li motions Janet forward. "I accept your gift, with my gratitude. You have done as I asked, and more. That fool Fei was always too ambitious for his own good. I regret the loss of Zhao Chen's talents--they will be difficult to replace. But if he was fool enough to summon up t'ao t'ieh as if they were simple Guàiwù, then he got what he deserved. I will need to replace Zhao Chen, however. Fei is too useful a tool to be severely punished for this, but someone will need to take over his territory. Perhaps you will show your Western Conjury to the next sorcerer I install in that region. To prevent further mishaps such as this from spiraling out of control."

((OOC: Nice roll. You have successfully lowered the Fear Level for Celestial Alley (from 4 to 3). That means there's a Legend chip in the pot, and free chip draws for everyone. You get an extra chip draw because you got a raise on the Tale-Tellin' check. Also, mark your used Adventure Card in the Adventure Card thread.))

Janet bows again.  "Thank you, your honor.  Roger is injured. but once he is better, I'm sure he would be happy to discuss our Conjury with your people.  I wish we could remain, but he needs medical attention right away."

"I see. Well, as he was injured protecting my interests, allow me to render aid." Huang Li makes a gesture, and one of the men in the room slinks out.

A few minutes later, a small old Chinese man bearing a bag that smells strongly of herbs and incense arrives, and begins looking over Roger.

He begins by motioning to men, who bring him bowls of clean water and linens. Then he begins to work by lighting some sticks of incense and then removes several worryingly long needles from his bag. Roger's eyes go a bit wide, but the diminutive old man just clucks at him. Roger sighs, removes his torn and stained jacket and shirt with obvious pain, and the man begins sticking needles at various precise points around Roger's bruised ribs.

The old man begins setting Roger's broken ribs. The huckster watches the man work, surprise playing on his features...it doesn't look like Roger's feeling nearly the amount of pain he should be. The little old man works cleanly and efficiently, but then he frowns, removes the needles, and tosses them in the water. Then he backs away and gabbles at Huang Li, who also frowns.

"My most august healer An Chau says that he cannot do more, I'm afraid." Huang Li says. "There is some form of negative chi that eats at you, and he cannot disperse it. He says your shadow has been stolen."

"Not stolen. Just temporarily misplaced. It will return eventually." Roger hisses as he moves. He leans heavily on his cane, but he's standing on his own. "I think I can walk, at least. I thank your most august healer for the effort." he looks at Janet. "Mrs. Fairchild will be expecting us. We should retire for the evening."

((OOC: An Chau, a healer on Huang Li's payroll, attempts to heal some of Roger's injuries. He's an Extra with a d6 in Healing and the Healer edge. He needs to work on Roger's Incapacitation before he can touch any of the Wounds.

23:13, Today: The Stray, for the NPC An Chau, rolled 7 using 1d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 5. Healing Incapacitation.

23:14, Today: The Stray, for the NPC An Chau, rolled 4 using 1d6-1, rerolling max with rolls of 5. Healing.

That will heal 1 wound. That's the best An Chau can do for him. Roger will need to receive healing from another source before the Golden Hour is up if he's to be fully healed.))

Janet bowed again, took Roger by the arm, and left.

((OOC: Now here's the question...do you want to get Janet involved in the shindig described on the "Greatest Show On Earth" thread? I'd like to move PCs there (or for someone to take control of a friendly NPC or two) to help tip the balance of that situation, and it kind lies directly in Janet's path.))

I admit I haven't been following that thread.  But yeah, we can put Janet directly in the action there, if you don't mind recapping a bit.  After we get roger healed up, that is.

Recap: A bunch of flaming zombies have suddenly staggered out of the ruins of the Gem, and are attempting to set Deadwood and it's citizens on fire. The mad scientist Hyrum Burns, his daughter, Freiherr von Steinhoff, Col. Manning, and Black Jack Bordeaux are attempting to figure out how to stop them.

The Burning Men are attacking people and buildings just south of the train depot, which is between Janet and the boarding house. If we're going to do this, it's before Janet can drop Roger anywhere.

All right.  Let's go for it. 

Draw a card, then, so I know where to place you in the running initiative order.

04:07, Today: Janet Weiss drew the single card: JC using a deck of 54 cards. Init.

That's high enough to put you right into the running action. I'll post an intro for you.

This thread is now closed. Please resume posting on the "Greatest Show On Earth" thread.