some mood music

September 13th, 1880. Mid-afternoon. House of Heavenly Delights, Celestial Alley, Deadwood, Sioux Nations

The House of Heavenly Delights is easy to find...the burning opium can be smelled a block away. The place is busy...east and west put aside their differences in the haze of scented smoke from pipes held over oil lamps. Men and a few women recline on plush blankets as attendants move about. From back rooms come the clink of tiles and the snap of cards, with the occasional excited yell or disappointed groan.

Black Jack is ushered into the main room, the ones covered in mats and pillows, by a faintly hollow-eyed young Chinese woman who gives him a half-hearted smile and asks him in broken English what his pleasure would be.

Fang Lau and his goons escort Janet and Mr. Sebastian to the rear door, out of sight of the main body of smokers and gamblers. They are ushered up a flight of stairs to a wide, flat room that has all the trappings of a throne room. Silken tapestries and engraved columns line the room, and in the center is a high chair where a stocky Chinese man with a trim Van Dyke beard and hair cropped in a western fashion but wearing traditional robes sits. The man motions Janet and Sebastian forward.

"Please, forgive the abrupt summons." He says, his voice low and faintly gravelly. "I apologize if you were put to any inconvenience." Something in his tone implies that he couldn't actually care less about any inconvenience he caused, and he may, in fact, have been eager to inflict as much inconvenience as possible and was faintly disappointing no one was injured in the process of the abrupt summons. It's an interesting trick for him to imply all that with a few simple words, gestures, and body language. "I am the Most August Haung Li, Vanguard of the Lion's Roar Triad and Head Operations Officer of the Iron Dragon railyard here in Deadwood."

There's a pause, then he says, "It is customary to bow, when one is in such a presence. Unless one wishes to give disrespect."
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:14, Sat 15 June 2013.

Jack smiles broadly "I was thinking a little feminine company would be right nice. But you ladies are so little .. I think I might desire the company of two of you."

01:16, Today: Black Jack Boudreaux rolled 7,6 using 1d6+2,1d10+2, rerolling max with rolls of 5,4. persuasion . Just turning on the charm.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:16, Tue 11 June 2013.

Janet put on a dimpled smile.  "Where I come from, it is customary for a lady to curtsey.  To bow would be a sign of disrespect."  With that, she made a small and dainty curtsey.

Huang Li remains impassive. "Ah, what is that American saying? 'When in Rome, do as Romans do?' When you are south of the train tracks, you are in America. North of the train tracks, you are in China. Unless you wish to cause offense?"

---

The girl's face flickers, and for a moment, just a tiny moment, Black Jack can see her shudder with shame and terror. Then the hollow smile is back.

"Of course, sir." She says. "Whatever sir desires."

"Ah yes, but what is the old Chinese proverb?  'The slender reed yields to the strong wind, but the mighty tree is uprooted'?  It would be offensive for me to do anything but curtsey.  You may consider it an American version of the bow, if you will."

Persuasion to convince him this is acceptable:

11:56, Today: Janet Weiss rolled 8,6 using d8+4,d6+4, rerolling max with rolls of 4,2. Persuasion.

"Perhaps it is. Or perhaps you merely need to learn the technique." Huang Li says, and motions to Fang Lau. "Please, instruct her."

Fang Lau bows, then heads to a nearby rack that has a dizzing array of weapons on it. He selects a straight wooden club and begins to advance on her.

Haung Li smiles lazily. "Let us test the truth of that proverb. Are you the reed, Mrs. Weiss? Or the tree?"

((OOC: Huang Li sees your Persuasion roll and raises with an Intimidate check. He's not actually interested in making nice with her right now.

19:37, Today: Huang Li rolled 2,5 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,5. Intimidate. Please roll Spirit to resist.))

Janet looks unimpressed.  "I am gwailo, Huang Li.  I am neither.  And if you want gwailo help, you need gwailo ways."  She turned to Roger.  "Wouldn't you agree that adaptability is a good trait in everyone?"


20:22, Today: Janet Weiss rolled 7,4 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (6+1)7,4. Spirit.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:28, Wed 12 June 2013.

"You dare!" Huang Li growls, and makes a curt gesture.

Roger looks alarmed. "Janet, don't--"

But whatever he was going to say is wiped out as the group of thugs gang-tackle him. He goes down as one of them kicks him in the gut, driving him to his knees. Another kicks him in the face, and he goes all the way to the ground, held securely by the goons.

Fang Lau leaps in, his body blurring as that blue nimbus flares to life around him. The club whistles through the air, striking Janet's knee, causing it to buckle and send her to the ground.

"You are indeed gweilo, and arrogant ones at that!" Huang Li continues ranting from his throne. "You came to me for help with your plan to unseat the Marshal! Then you turned around and stole my property! And when, in the interests of mutual reciprocity, I magnanimously agree to overlook your transgression in exchange for a small favor, you insult me in my own seat of power by refusing to do as you are asked! Your disrespect knows no bounds! Kneel and grovel for your lives, worms! Kneel and pray that I take pity and spare one of you!"

((OOC: And it's on. Roger is seized by four of the enforcers (a Group Grapple attack with +3 Gang-up bonus) while Fang Lau lashes out with the club.

22:26, Today: Iron Dragon Enforcers rolled 29,7 using d8+3,d6+3, rerolling max with rolls of (8+8+8+2)26,4. Grapple! That's...impressive. Roger has an excellent Fighting, but I think that's a bit out of his league.

22:27, Today: Roger Whateley rolled 8,1 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 8,1. Opposed Grapple! Yup. Roger goes down, Restrained and Shaken.

Fang Lau activates his Quickness power. 22:32, Today: Fang Lau rolled 6,3 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 6,3. Quickness.

That gives him 2 actions on each of his cards. He uses his second action this round to try and wallop Janet.

22:33, Today: Fang Lau rolled 5,1 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,1. Fighting! That's a hit.

22:35, Today: Fang Lau rolled 5,8 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,(6+2)8. Damage. that's 13 damage total, which is a Shaken and 2 Wounds for Janet unless she soaks. Janet, take your action, and then draw a card.

Cards:
Haung Li: On Hold
Fang Lau and the enforcers: 5H))
This message was last edited by the player at 05:50, Wed 12 June 2013.

Janet stumbles, but does not fall.  "If Roger wants me to bow, he only has to ask."  With that, she made a curt bow at Huang Li.

Spending a white chip to soak:

22:49, Today: Janet Weiss rolled 5,2 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,2. Soak roll.

That's one wound, I'll spend a second white chip to eliminate the shaken.

Janet then goes on full defense:

22:56, Today: Janet Weiss rolled 0,3 using d4-1,d6-1, rerolling max with rolls of 1,4. Full Defense.

Which takes my parry to a 7. 

"Not low enough." Huang Li says at the bow. "Fang Lau, continue."

((OOC: Er...a Full Defense is a Fighting Roll at +2 that replaces your Parry...you don't add your roll to your Parry. That means your Parry is 5 (4 from the roll, +2 Fighting, -1 wound), not 7. Unless you spend a Chip on it that I didn't see.

Also, please draw your card for your next action.))

23:27, Today: Janet Weiss drew the single card: JD using a deck of 54 cards. Init.

((OOC: Roger has an 8H, so Janet's up before anyone else in the round (unless Huang Li gets involved).))

Janet bows, significantly deeper.


23:51, Today: Janet Weiss rolled 2,6 using d4+1,d6+1, rerolling max with rolls of 1,5. Full Defense.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:55, Wed 12 June 2013.

"Are you ladies not on the menu?" Black Jack asked the seemingly shaken girl.


00:23, Today: Black Jack Boudreaux rolled 5,2 using d6,d4, rerolling max with rolls of 5,2. notice. To hear the beatings.

"Much better." Huang Li says, and holds up a hand. Fang Lau nods, and retreats. He does not stop glowing, however.

"Now, on to business. The last few days have been...trying. You were not the first person to brazenly rob me, and that has strained my face with the community. Some of my enforcers are getting...restless, and I need to repair the damage you have caused my reputation. A whore stole some important documents from me. Documents I need to recover, as they are vital to the railroad's business."

"But the girl is beyond our reach." Sebastian says from his position on the floor. "I told you that when I did that reading for you earlier. Unless you have a way of getting through the Sioux Nations unmolested and traveling to their holiest site to apprehend her."

Huang Li waves a and, and one of the enforcers clamps a fist over Sebastian's mouth. "Do not interrupt me. I do not intend for you to go after this girl, in any case. But I wonder if perhaps your talents in finding things might not be put to use finding other people I need found."

((OOC: There's a -2 circumstance penalty to hear things upstairs, due to the general commotion down in the parlor below. That winds up being a 3.))

Another woman interposes herself between the first girl and Jack, making an odd approximation of a Western-style bow that makes it rather obvious there's nothing under the sashed robe she's wearing. She grins broadly, her dark eyes bright and knowing. "She flighten of foreign devil - vely big! Frightening!" She giggles. "You looking for good time?"

Janet shrugs.  "It would have been easier to just ask.  Tell me what you need, and I'll see what is within my power to do."