Emerald City, September 1st, 2008  1:00 AM
---------------------------------

Jiro was restless. Sleep refused to come, and he had the sense that something was... off. Thus, he set to walking. After all, even at 1 in the morning, Jiro doubted that he would run into anything he couldn't handle. Emerald City was far from the most dangerous place he had walked at night.

As he walked aimlessly, his mind wandered...
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:59, Tue 01 Feb 2011.

In reply to Gamemaster (msg #1):

These American cities are entirely too spread out, thought the young martial artist as he walked, adjusting the shoulder strap of his rather hefty backpack. The adjustment was ritual more than need, it's weight was a familiar one, not especially burdensome. He picked his way down the sidewalk, a practiced eye looking for anything that seemed out of place.

Of course, back home everything was all crammed together. Not nessecerily better, just different. He sighed as he walked on, one eye glancing towards the sky, noting the thin clouds. It didn't look like rain, but one never knew. After one fight sans... support... after being cursed, he made a habit of appropriate underclothes for both his forms. Explaining why he was wearing a sports bra, while embarassing and annoying, was vastly less painful than trying to fight without one.

Bah. Woolgathering. He was tired, but still something itched at him. He couldn't tell what, which was annoying. He was supposed to have better self control than this, which made it doubly so.

Of course, if he was as skilled as he was supposed to be, he wouldn't be in this mess in the first place.

Breathing a prayer to any friendly kami who might be listening that the rumors that lead him here would bear fruit, he trudged on, senses on the lookout for anything that might explain this uneasy feeling.

The explanation did not take long to come. Jiro realized that he was in a rougher neighborhood just as, he heard some very familiar sounds. Raised voice, male and female. Fists striking flesh, hard. Cries of pain. Then... gunfire echoing in the alleyway followed by a woman's scream.

[OOC: Roll Init, and state your actions. You can't see anything obvious, but you can tell that you are perhaps 50 feet away from the altercation.]

At the sound of raising voices, Jiro stopped short, trying to locate it. Before he can manage, he hears a blow, and a gunshot, and curses sharply in Japanese. Drawing on his ki, he races for the alleyway, faint flickers of bluish light in his wake. As he rounds the corner, he curses his earlier distraction; had he been paying attention perhaps he could have prevented this. Entering the alley, he takes in the scene.

[OOC: Array is in Ki Focus.

Using Skill Mastery to take 10 on notice; total 22

22:44, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 14 using 1d20+6. Rolling initiative. ]
This message was last edited by the player at 06:53, Tue 01 Feb 2011.

Jiro races around the corner, taking the situation in at a glance. Half a dozen men are standing in the alley with their backs to Jiro, having the look of common American thugs. They are all armed with various knives and improvised clubs, while one of them has a SMG in his hand.

They are all focused on a young, attractive, and very naked woman. She's down on one knee and has blood running down her side.

There are four other men slumped against the alley walls, looking like someone had tossed them there with great force.

The man with the gun aims at the girl. "Alright BITCH! HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT!"

[OOC: No one has noticed you yet. I am assuming you are taking 10 on stealth.]

In the blue corner, naked bleeding woman. In the red corner, armed thugs. That makes this a rather easy choice, at least. Shouting a battle cry, Jiro charged the group, pale blue energy gathering around his fist as he winds up and lets fly at the thug with the machine gun.

At no point does the possibility of not getting involved cross his mind.

[OOC: keeping the array in Ki Focus.

23:03, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 20 using 1d20+12. Ki Striking the guy with the SMG. DC 23 toughness save if it hits.]

The man with the SMG whirls to face this newcomer. "YOU MADE A..." is all get gets out before the fist crashes into him. He impacts the wall a good ten feet away, about ten feet above ground level. He slides down in a heap.

Jiro doesn't see this, already turning his attention to the other thugs. Moving like lightning, he unleashes four more punches, and five more men end up meeting the alley walls. One by virtue of the fact his 'friend' served quite nicely as an improvised projectile.

Spinning smoothly to face the girl, he finds her staring at him in wide eyed amazement. Her right hand is covering what is probably a bullet wound on her left side.

Interestingly, she doesn't look particularly panicked, nor does she make any move to cover herself.

http://images2.fanpop.com/imag...-7702370-414-594.jpg

[OOC: 02:11, Today: Gamemaster rolled 6 using 1d20+5. SMG Thug Toughness Save.
Taking 10 on takedown attacks, forcing impossible toughness saves on the minions.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:27, Tue 01 Feb 2011.

Surveying the wreckage of his work, Jiro lets himself smirk a moment. Then his expression goes studiously neutral as he glances at the girl. Then he blushes, and snaps his eyes to meet hers. Smooth, Koji, smooth. "Uh, hi. One second, miss." Turning away, he pulls off his hoodie, and offers it to her. "Here you go. I, uh, I have some pants in my pack, I'll just need a minute to dig some out."

Still not looking at her, he glances over the sprawled bodies, making sure none of them are in imminent danger of dying, then finds his voice once more. "Uh, if your side is as bad as it looks, I can take a look at you." Then he curses. "That came out wrong. Uh, I'm a healer. I can fix that wound, if you'll let me." A moment's concentration, and his hands are again sheathed in blue light, this time a softer, more dilute glow.

"Oh right! Uh, my name is Jiro Koji. What's yours?" Yeah, real smooth tonight, Koji.

[OOC: taking 10 on notice on the thugs, checking their condition. Also shifting the array to Merciful Spirit's Grasp. If she agrees, I'll attempt to heal her.]

The girl gives Jiro an odd look as he pulls his hoodie off. Why is he wearing a? "Uhhh.. Thanks." she says, sounding wary. She gingerly takes the hoodie and pulls it on. She stands, smoothly, and looks around the alley feeling somewhat bewildered at the events of the last five minutes.

When Jiro turns towards her with the glowing hands and the offer of healing, she takes a step back. Jiro's practiced eye instantly sees that she has settled into a defensive posture, a rather good one. "Uhhh... that's okay. It's not as bad as it looked."

The wince she makes and the blood starting to soak through the side of the hoodie lends doubt to the veracity of this statement.

"I'm... Alex. Thank you again for the help there, it was... well... thanks." The girl looks around the alley "Umm... I know this sounds strange but... I really want to know."

"How the hell did you do that and where the hell am I?"

He gives the girl another brief look, noting the blood showing on his loaned shirt, frowned. Well, I suppose she has the right. And hell, blood washes out. Note to self: get some change for a laundromat sooner than later. Turning back to his pack, he rummages for a t-shirt for himself and - another glance at this Alex; she was taller than he was by enough that most of his good pants wouldn't fit anyway - an old pair of faded black sweat pants, which he handed to the girl. "Well, that's fair enough. Here, these should more or less fit. And if you change your mind about the healing, the offer stands."



Pulling on the t-shirt he stood, leaving his pack at his feet for the moment. "As for how I did that, well, I'm a martial artist who has learned to manipulate his ki. Which is sort of a living energy." A shrug. "That's the simple version, anyway. The technical explanation would take too long for this alley. Some of these idiots might wake up, soon." He sketched a vague gesture, as if to encompass the unconscious thugs.

He took a breath. Her not knowing where she is... head injury? Or something weirder? Teleport accident or something? "As for the rest, This is Emerald City, in America. Uhm, not trying to be rude, but, uh, where are you supposed to be?"

[OOC: Skill mastery to take 10 on Sense Motive, total 22. Something weird is going on here, and Jiro's wondering what. Array is staying in healing mode for the moment, though he's powered down, removing the glow, so as not to unnerve her without cause.]

Alex wordlessly took the pants, and pulled them on. Again, she doesn't seem to show any embarrassment about being naked in front of a strange man.

As Jiro tries to get a sense of her, he is struck by mixed messages. She's clearly confused by what is going on, and her level of stress seems to be fluctuating. At times she starts to look like she is heading towards panic and then it just damps itself out into a very calm but ready state. Her stance shifts with 'mood' as well, ranging from awkward to very smooth and practiced.



"How the hell did I end up in the States?" Alex asks, her voice level. "And far enough south that I'm not getting frostbite? Frak it... This night has been going from strange to Lewis Carroll."

She takes a deep breath. "Alright... you're right. This is a bad place to hold a conversation. The frackers you just... fracked really deserved it. So, I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt here and go with the 'you are not scumvermin' theory."

Alex cracks a small smile. "Of course if I'm wrong, and you do end up trying to play games I don't want to play, I don't care what mojo you have. I will do my level best to make sure you'll never get it up again. Just FYI." Strangely, she sounds fairly friendly and in good humour when she says this.

Jiro blinked slowly. Frackers? Scumvermin? What in the world? And south? Emerald City's barely an hour from the border. He gave her another measuring look, trying to get a sense of this strange girl, still bleeding into his shirt. And... she didn't answer my question. But she's edgy enough she might not realize that.

"I'm not sure what 'scumvermin' are but I'd like to think I don't qualify, Alex-san. I do know that there's a bunch of better places than this for a conversation. If you have just travled, from another country or whatever, food would probably be good." He manages a weak smile. "I know it always helps me when I've just finished a trip. There's a coffee shop a couple blocks from here, if I remember right. Public space, other people, so if I did try something stupid, you'd have help kicking my ass. And I'd probably deserve it."

[OOC: I'll start towards the alley mouth. If Alex follows, I'll lead the way to the nearest coffee shop. If not, I'll wait.]

Mind working furiously, Jiro considered how best to answer her other statements. "I've got a theory or two about how you mighta wound up in the States, starting with 'annoying a teleporter' and moving onto greater weirdness. But, uh... I suspect there's some confusion here. For starters... this is about as north as you can get in the United States without being in Alaska. We're about an hour south of the Canadian border."

He paused, deliberately putting himself into a relaxed stance, trying not to let his own nerves show, where they might set her off, but still ready to react at a moment's notice. Taking a breath, he continued. "That, and it's early fall here, so, yeah, this isn't especially warm for the region. At least, this version of the region. Where you're from, did you ever get attacked by a dimension travling warlord called 'Omega?'" Not waiting for a response he continued, words falling over each other as his own nervousness grew, the itch on the back of his neck getting more intense. "I'm not accusing you of being one of his people, Alex-san, but, well, I think dimension travling stuff could be involved. Which would suck, because it's hard and dangerous and stuff. Uh, and I'll shut up now." Brilliant, Koji, that's sure to help calm her down. Baka.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:02, Tue 01 Feb 2011.

"That sounds good. I could use some Timmies right now. Lead on."

Walking out of the Alley brings her close to the guy who had the SMG. She pauses by him for a moment, then kicks his unconscious body in the groin. This lifts the body a good foot off the ground. Jiro sees Alex's eyes widen at this, seemingly in surprise. After a beat Alex shrugs, leans down to grab the thugs jacket and growls in his ear. "Take that you fracker."



Alex stops dead for a moment and stares at Jiro. She takes a deep breath, shakes her head, and keeps walking. Jiro notices by this point Alex is moving much easier, and the wound on her side has stopped bleeding.


"... now I know how Alice felt. If I hadn't seen thugs getting punched into walls, I'd say you're on drugs. The glowing hands thing kinda made me think I was on the drugs though. Since I've never heard of any kind of real dimension traveling warlords, much less ones named after Greek letters, and early fall does not equal late January... I think I'm going to have to go with the strange new world theory." Jiro can hear the disbelief in Alex's voice as she says this.

By this point the pair had made it to the Coffee Shop. It's empty save for a board looking cashier. The pair place their orders, but when Jiro goes to pay Alex pulls a ten out of the pouch of the hoodie. "My treat." she says with a wink. "Courtesy of my 'would be date' back there."

[OOC: 12:52, Today: Alex rolled 25 using 1d20+5. Slight of Hand. ]

Jiro's cheek twitched in compulsive sympathy as Alex's foot made contact with the thug's groin. The guy didn't deserve his sympathy, really, but, well, some reactions are instinctive. The fact that Alex was surprised at how far the guy flew spoke volumes. She doesn't seem to know her strength, but it's more than that. Oh, Koji, you and your stupid hero complex, what have you gotten into now?

Absently, he brought a ki-charged heel strike down in the business end of the SMG. He didn't like guns.

Though he lead the way to the coffee shop, he kept an eye on his companion. She'd recovered from her injury. She's got powers of some sort. Powers she's not familiar with, and from what she's said, this is so not home for her it's almost not funny.

When she produced what had to be the thug's wallet, he did a double take, then smirked. How did I miss that? She's good. "I should probably protest that on general principle, but honestly? I can't work up an ounce of sympathy for the guy." Taking his tea, he followed Alex to a booth.

Well, you wanted to talk, didn't you Koji? Surely you can think of something to help. "So, wrong country and wrong time of year... Yeah, I'm guessing your Alice comment is fairly right. I don't know much about dimensions and stuff, but I know that some mages mess with it. I'm in town to talk with a mage about a problem of my own, I'd be happy to introduce you. He might be able to help you." Asuming anything I've heard about Dragoneye is even vaguely right. Gah. You're getting her hopes up for nothing, Koji-baka!

[OOC: 10:26, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 11 using 1d20+8. Arcane lore - thinking about dimensions and the mages who travel them.

Array shifted to Ki Focus while I crushed the gun, and staying there until I say otherwise.]

Alex takes a sip of her hot chocolate and then a bite of her muffin before answering in the privacy of the booth. "I do object on principle, but I can't seem to feel guilty about taking drug money from a guy who promised to gang rape me. I saw him trading a baggy with white powder for cash right before things they noticed me. The fact that I'm an illegal alien with no ID and no prospects of employment also helped push me over the edge. I promise it won't be a habit."


"Wizards? Honest to goodness spell casters? Seriously?" She forces a small laugh. "Of course there are real mages here. Next you are going to tell me that there are spandex clad superheros flying around and the prospects of an alien invasion from outer space is a real concern."

Alex rubbed the side of her face and whispered something probably not meant for Jiro's ears. _{"what the hell has happened to me... everything was so normal when I went to bed."}

"Well, that's fair enough."



At her statement, and the whispered aside that his sharp ears caught, Jiro winces. Merciful kamis, of course it had to get more complicated. "Uhm... okay, I'm not quite sure how to explain it but... heck with it, I'll say it outright. Gives us something to work with. There are spandex-clad superheroes flying around, and I know we've had at least one alien invasion in the last couple years, that I heard about." In a lowered voice he continued, "And 'normal?' You're normal for where you're from? You recovered from a gunshot wound in minutes, and before I'd got to that alley, you'd dropped four of those scumbags, good and hard from what I saw." He looked away. "Sorry about that, by the way... If I'd been paying better attention to what was going on around me, I probably could have gotten there in time to stop the 'you getting shot' part. I was brooding too much to pay proper attention."

He forced himself to stop rambling. "Sorry, I'm rambling. You're probably panicing a bit and I'm not helping, being all ranty like this. Uh.." No, Jiro, don't ask if she's got a place to stay; she's the definition of an out of towner right now. Even you're not that dumb. But don't offer to let her crash in your motel room. If those guys were threatening rape, which would be in character for stupid American thugs, that's probably the last thing she wants to hear. Just cut your losses and shut it. Let her recover her wits some. Baka.

Alex stares at Jiro with her mouth hanging open a bit as he talks about supers and aliens. When he mentions recovering from the gunshot wound, she starts, pulls up the edge of the hoodie and looks down at her bloody but unmarked skin with an expression of shock and wonder. "I did... didn't I? I... I am normal for where I'm from... well, mostly. At least I was." Alex's calm seems to be coming apart. She's breathing faster, and her eyes are looking a bit wet.

"Okay, you have super-ki martial arts powers of doom... how the hell did I manage to do the same thing? I... I'M NOT THAT STRONG. Hell, I'd be lucky to give someone a black eye if I punched them. How the hell did I just pull a Buffy impression? What's happened to me?"

Oh, well done, baka. She's coming apart. Very smooth. Jiro pulled back a bit, suddenly feeling very nervous and self conscious. "Well, uh, I don't really know how you just 'did a Buffy impression.' People get powers in weird ways, like in the comics. I got mine though years of training and study." Yeah, emphasize that. Get all self-righteous that you earned your powers and she didn't just falling into them somehow. That'll help. "Uh, not that there's anything wrong with just sort of spontaneously getting powers. I mean... Gah, this is not my night."

He paused, gathered his thoughts. "Look, I don't pretend to be an expert on powers. Kamis, I'm not even an expert on ki - just a journyman with much to learn. Alex-san, I can offer to introduce you to one who is said to be wise, one who I hope can help me, and possibly help you. And if nothing else, Dragoneye should at least know who to talk to if he can't help us. Uh. If you want my help."

A sigh, and he took a deep drink of his tea. "I am sorry, Alex-san. I am not expressing myself well this night, and I am making things more awkward. But my offer to aid you stands, should you wish to allow me to do so." He sits back, awaiting a response, and wishing he knew a way to comfort this stranger. Feh, even cursed to become one, I do not understand women. Yet I cannot just let her suffer. Honor aside, this one seems to have gone through much and does not deserve it.

Tears start flowing, and Alex crosses her arms on the table and puts her face down in them. She breaths deeply, not quite hyper-ventilating, for a the better part of a minute.

Then she sits back up, looking much calmer and with the tears gone. "Okay. You're the only decent seeming person I've met on this world... so I'm going to keep trusting you. Thank you."

She smiles, and looks like she is about to say more, but is interrupted.

Three men walk into the coffee shop, looking to be in their mid 20's. They are chatting and joking around, seeming like normal guys out for a late coffee.

That is until they take a good look around the room. "Three and three. Anyone feeling a little peckish?" one of the says.

"Hmm... I could do with a snack." says the second.

"Let's do it. I call the girl." says the third.

"Man, you always take the girl." the second complains.

"Doesn't bother me any. I know what I like." Says the first, looking at Jiro with what a predatory expression on his face.

The first and the third man walk towards Jiro and Alex, while the second heads towards the cashier, now looking far less board. Everyone notices the long, pointed teeth that are now quite visible in the mouths of the newcomers.

[OOC: Ahem... Roll Init. If you beat 11, you can act first. Ties go to the highest bonus.
15:20, Today: Gamemaster rolled 11 using 1d20+5. Init for the three. ]

"Vampires. Kuso."

[OOC: 12:23, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 25 using 1d20+6. Rollin' Initiative]

Two coming for us, and one for the guy at the till. And Alex and I both have powers, so... Jiro vaults to his feet, sliding into a combat stance and gathering his ki into his hands. Taking aim at the vampire closing on the cashier, he focused on projecting his ki as he brought his palms together. "Wrathful Kami's Shout!" He thrusts his hands forward, the heel of each hand touching the other, projecting a beam of radiant blue energy towards the monster.

[OOC: taking 10 on acrobatics to get up and into stance, shifting the array into blast, and then taking a shot at the vampire menacing the cashier.

12:29, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 10 using 1d20+8. To-hit for my blast. On the off chance that actually connects, dc 25 toughness check.]

"Vampires. Frack."
Alex gracefully leaps out of her own chair, and strikes at the Vampire coming for her. She moves with the practiced grace of an highly experienced martial artist.

[OOC: 15:23, Today: Alex rolled 24 using 1d20+4. Init.
16:34, Today: Alex rolled 17 using 1d20+12. Unarmed attack.
If it hits, she uses improved grab to make a free Grapple Check
16:36, Today: Alex rolled 38 using 1d20+19. Grapple Check.  Doing damage if it succeeds]
This message was last edited by the player at 22:29, Tue 01 Feb 2011.

The Vampires were not expecting any resistance, and so when the couple in the corner leapt to attack, they were caught utterly by surprise.

Jiro's hurried shot narrowly misses the Vampire, the young man not wanting to risk hitting the bystander. Alex is rather more successful.

She grabs the Vampire's outstretched arm and pulls him towards her. Jiro hears the sound of joints breaking as Alex demonstrates frankly uncanny strength. Alex uses the momentum to spin the monster around, so that it's back is to her chest. She grabs it's head with both hands and, with a practiced twist, snaps the things neck. It collapses into a heap at her feet.

The Vampires turn as one and snarl at Alex. "YOU'LL PAY FOR THAT, GIRL!"

Claws spring from the beasts hands, and the lunge at the girl. Shocked by what she had just done, the Vampires have no troubles striking her. The closest one takes one step and tears at her exposed stomach. The other leaps across the room to land behind her, slicing at her head as it flies past.

[OOC: 16:55, Today: Gamemaster rolled 13 using 1d20+5. Vampire Toughness Save. Fail by 10. Stunned, Disabled
Auto-fails opposed grapple check, and so another toughness save
16:57, Today: Gamemaster rolled 12 using 1d20+5. Vampire Toughness Save.
Fail by 11. Disabled again, which changes status to dying. As the vampires are constructs, they get no fort save to resist and so it's dead. For now.


17:13, Today: Gamemaster rolled 28 using 1d20+8. Attacking Alex.
Critical Hit. DC 28 Toughness save. Lethal
17:14, Today: Gamemaster rolled 26 using 1d20+8. Attacking Alex, Charge, power attack 2.
Hit. DC 25 Toughness save. Lethal
Vampire that charged is at -2 Defense until it's next action.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:30, Tue 01 Feb 2011.

Somehow Alex survives the worst of the blows. The first vampire only manages to tear open her shirt, but does not penetrate her skin instead of spilling her guts onto the floor. The second one's leap tears bloody streaks across her shoulder. With a cry of pain, Alex falls to her knees.



[OOC 17:19, Today: Alex rolled 18 using 1d20+10. Toughness save VS DC 28.
17:20, Today: Alex rolled 29 using 1d20+10. Hero point re-roll. No damage
17:21, Today: Alex rolled 17 using 1d20+10. Toughness save VS DC 25.

Status - Stunned, Injured 1, Bruised 1]

"Alex-san!" Jiro had been busily focusing himself after loosing his ki blast, and the vamps had gotten past him. Now, Alex was down, along with one of the monsters.

"You will pay for your hunting, monsters," he growled, refocusing his ki. Dark blue light coalesces around his fists as he moves towards the vampire who charged Alex, feinting with a left before lunging into a right with all the force of his will behind it. "Fist of the Oni!"

[OOC: Taking ten on an Acrobatic Feint on the nearest one, shifting the array to Fist of the Oni as I do so and using Fist of the Oni to ki-punch the vamp as hard as I can.

Acrobatic Feint at 22 thanks to taking ten, then punching the charging vamp.
14:39, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 13 using 1d20+10. Fist of the Oni. DC 25 toughness save if that hits.]

Jiro ducks and dodges, stepping towards one Vampire, then suddenly swinging at the second. Caught totally off guard, the vampire takes the full force to it's unbreathing chest. It staggers back a step, then snarls. "You'll have to do better then that, blood-bag!"

The injured vampire licks it's bloodstained claws and swings at Jiro, it's supernatural speed allowing it to score a blow.

The other vampire bends down grabs Alex. It tries to hold her in place and sink it's teeth into her, but she shrugs it's grasping hands off with ease.

[OOC: 17:43, Today: Gamemaster rolled 25 using 1d20+8. Vampire Toughness Save. -3 for math error = Injured.
17:49, Today: Gamemaster rolled 17 using 1d20+8. Intimidate as Move action.
resist with Intimidate, Sense Motive, or Will Save or be flat footed.
17:48, Today: Gamemaster rolled 27 using 1d20+8. Attacking Jiro.
17:48, Today: Gamemaster rolled 20 using 1d20+8. Attacking Alex.
17:52, Today: Gamemaster rolled 13 using 1d20+12. Vampire Grapple Check.

17:53, Today: Gamemaster, on behalf of Alex, rolled 20 using 1d20+19. Grapple Check.

Vampire 1 - Injured
Vampire 2 -
]

"OH NO YOU DON'T!" Alex screams in the vampires face. With no concern for defense, Alex attacks. She was NOT going to let this thing suck on her blood.

17:58, Today: Alex rolled 22 using 1d20+17. AAO 5 VS Vampire.
Improved Grab/Damage Combo
17:59, Today: Alex rolled 38 using 1d20+19. Grapple Check.
That's 2 DC 23 toughness saves.

Status - Stunned, Injured 1, Bruised 1]

Jiro winces as the claws connect, but shakes it off.

[OOC: 14:57, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 24 using 1d20+10. Toughness save vrs vamp claws.

14:58, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 25 using 1d20+10. Will save. ]

He shoots the monster a look, sneering. "A poor threat, one which I do not believe." He dances towards the vampire again, fists shrouded in blue light as he channels his ki, then lashes out with a charged kick.
[OOC: Acrobatic Feint, -1 since I used it on him last round, taking 10 for a 21. Shifting the array to Ki Focus and making a ki strike attack.

15:02, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 13 using 1d20+12. Hero point to re-roll. 15:04, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 15 using 1d20+12. Hero point reroll. - adjusted to 25 from the hero point. DC 23 toughness save.

Jiro's playmate's blood curdling scream intimidation factor is somewhat reduced by the fact that it is still shaking off the ki-charged kick to the side of his head. It makes a clumsy attempt to attack, but Jiro doesn't even need to try to dodge.

Alex's panic fueled attack works. She gets a firm grip on the vampire, slams his stomach down on her head and shoulders, then jumps straight up. WAY up. Power slamming the Vampire into the ceiling up.

Dust falls, and soon there after do the combatents. Twisting in the air, Alex cushions her fall with the Vampire's stunned form.

18:07, Today: Gamemaster rolled 21 using 1d20+4. Vampire 1 Toughness Save.
18:09, Today: Gamemaster rolled 21 using 1d20+5. Vampire 2 Toughness Save.
18:09, Today: Gamemaster rolled 15 using 1d20+5. Vampire 2 Toughness Save.

18:11, Today: Gamemaster rolled 18 using 1d20+7. Intimidate as Move action.
18:12, Today: Gamemaster rolled 9 using 1d20+8. Attacking Jiro.


Vampire 1 - Injured 2
Vampire 2 - Injured, Stunned

Jiro Koji's smile was unpleasant as he darted in towards his vampiric foe, ki shifting again as he bobs and weaves. A glance told him Alex was on top of her foe(literally) and he could concentrate on finishing his own. Darting forward, he faked a right and then sent in a left, an uppercut intended to remove heads. "Fist of the Oni!"

[OOC: Acrobatic Bluff once more, the cumulative penalty brings this one down to 20.

Shifting the array to Fist of the Oni

15:32, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 21 using 1d20+10. Fist of the Oni on my dance partner. DC 25 toughness save if it connects.]
This message was last edited by the player at 23:34, Tue 01 Feb 2011.

Alex looks at the chair she had just been sitting on and smiles. She grabs it and then attempts to ram the wooden leg into the heart of the Vampire.

18:35, Today: Alex rolled 25 using 1d20+17. AAO 5 VS Vampire.

Jiro's Oni Fist strikes square on the Vampire's jaw. It goes flying, smashing through the ceiling and up out of sight. At the rate it's going, it's probably going to land some distance into the ocean.

Alex's chair is just sharp enough, and she is more then strong enough, to pierce the heart with ease. The vampire explodes into a cloud of dust.

18:39, Today: Gamemaster rolled 12 using 1d20+3. Vampire 1 Toughness Save.
18:44, Today: Gamemaster rolled 2 using 1d20-1. Vampire Toughness Save, VS Stake.

Jiro smirks at the hole in the roof, then glances at the pile of dust that was Alex's target, and from there to the counter. "You okay back there?"

Whatever answer he gets, he turns back to Alex, his ki shifting and causing his hands to gain a soft, warm blue glow. "I know you heal fast, Alex-san, but I can offer some assistance to speed things up. We might need to deal with this one a bit more." He nods at the last vampire, still lying on the floor with his neck at an angle that would be unsurvivable for a human being. "These sorts have an irritating habit of not staying dead."
[OOC: array shifted to Merciful Spirit's Grasp. If Alex will let me, I'll heal her, but I'm not about to force myself on her in any way given how her night started.]

Alex just sits staring at the pile of dust under her. At Jiro's offer, she gives a shaky nod, and sighs deeply as the healing power flows through her.

"Thank you." she murmurs.

She takes a few deep breaths and looks at the remaining vampire. "No, I didn't finish it off. Wood stake through the heart will dust it." Alex says in a matter of fact tone.

Then she starts to tremble, her voice breaking. "How do I know that? Vampires aren't real, and most of the time they don't go all dusty in books or TV."

She turns and looks Jiro in the eyes, tears running down her face. "I... I killed it. It was going to EAT ME and I killed it. What... How..."

[ooc: The combined recover bonus is means auto-success. No more injuries.]

Kuso. Adrenaline crash. Gently, Jiro lowers her to one of the chairs a bit away from vampire. "Calmly, Alex-san. You did not kill it, it was already dead. It was not a person, just a beast, and it cannot hurt you again." He turned back to the other where it lay. "And neither will this one."

Grasping a fallen chair, he snapped off one leg, getting himself a sharp bit, and took a firm grip on it. Taking a moment to aim, he stabbed the makeshift stake into the vampire's chest. He threw the stake aside, feeling the effects of his own adrenaline fading. He took a moment to walk to the counter, glancing at the clerk.

[OOC: if he's obviously hurt, I'll heal him, if not, I'll just continue.]

"We are alive. I know a place nearby that is relatively safe. And tomorrow, when the sun is high and vampires cannot stalk us, I know of one we can find who might be able to help us both.

He walks back to the chair where he deposited the girl. "Alex-san, will you trust me?"

Alex allows Jiro to lead her to the chair. She nods jerkily in response. "Right. Vampire. Unholy creature of the night. Not a person. Okay..."

She sits there while Jiro stakes the vampire, looking away as he does.



Alex looks at Jiro, down at the piles of dust, then at the door. She takes a deep breath and stares into his eyes. Jiro get's the sense she's trying to judge him. Finally she extends a hand and says "I'll trust you."

The Clerk looks up at Jiro and gives him a thumbs up. You see that he has a cordless phone in his hand. He covers the mouthpiece with his other hand. "I'm good. Thanks man. The cops will be here soon, but I'll forget what you look like if you and your girlfriend want to disappear." He whispers.

"Then I shall endevor to be worthy of your trust." So saying, he accepts the offered hand gently and heads for the door, exchanging a last nod with the clerk and dropping a $10 on the counter. "Sorry for the mess."

As they walk into the night, he leads the way towards his motel, eschewing the shortcuts offered by alleys in favor of the well-lit streets, keeping a close eye on the surroundings and passers by.

[OOC: taking 10 on notice as we walk, for a result of 22]

As the silence stretches, he starts to feel awkward again. Small talk would hardly be the stupidest thing you've done tonight. "So. You never answered my question earlier. Where are you supposed to be?"

"What? Oh... that's right. I should be at home, in bed, sleeping before work in the morning. That's where I was before I ended up in that alley. I'm from a small town in Ontario." She pauses, suddenly looking uneasy. "There is an Ontario here, right? A province of Canada? Come to think of it... if I'm in another world I then I might be in another time. What year is it?"

"There is indeed an Ontario in Canada. The capital city is there. I passed through Toronto on my journeys early last year." Thank you, merciful Kami-sama, that at least that much is the same. "As for the year, this is early September in 2008. And Emerald City is on the west coast, if that helps. Quite a night." He smiled to try and take the edge out of his statement. Now, Kamis willing, we'll have a safe, boring walk back to the motel.

[OOC: still taking 10 on Notice for anything out of the ordinary here.]

It doesn't take long to get back to the Motel. It's a small place, but there is a couch large enough to sleep on in addition to the bed.

"Oh. Good. At least there's that... How much farther to your place?"

As it turns out, not that much.

Jiro probably notices Alex casting an eye towards the bathroom, specifically the shower.

"It's not much, but for now at least it's home," he said as he let her in. I'll definately be on the couch tonight. I think I saw a spare blanket in the closet. He drops his pack on the couch, and, noticing her glances, gestures towards the bathroom. "Ladies first, I insist."

As she closes the bathroom door, Jiro quickly double-checks the lock on the main door, then turns to his luggage. Oooohkay. That shirt is bloody and ripped up now, which is a shame because I like that one, but the pants are fine at least. He digs through the pack, fishing out a clean navy blue t-shirt (it would probably be a bit loose on her, she didn't quite have his build) and some spare socks. After a moment's hesitation, he also grabbed a sports bra and some underwear.

Standing at the bathroom door, he says, "I've got some clean clothes here for you. Can I open the door and put them on the counter, or should I just drop them out here?"

"Thank you. I... I want to talk some more but... I think I really need a shower. Or something else normal, but a shower seems good."

Soon the sound of water could be heard. After a few minutes, Singing could be heard. "I'se The Bye that builds the boat. And I'se the b'y that sails her! I'se the b'y that catches the fish And takes 'em home to Lizer."

"Uhhh... Just put them on the counter will be fine. Thank you!"

Not long after, she emerges from the bathroom, looking to be in a far better mental state. She sits on the couch, rubbing the socks in appreciation. "You know... it's really not my place to pry. But I'm curious. Am I going to have your girlfriend mad at me for borrowing her clothes or do you, like a lumberjack, enjoy dressing up in woman's clothing and hanging around in bars?"

She blushes a bit. "Feel free to tell me to go grapp myself."

http://i63.photobucket.com/alb...perhero/88680908.jpg

Okay, that had to be a reference to something. Now if only I knew what. He filed his pondering of the quote to the back burner. She'd asked a valid question, and she deserved an honest answer. And it's not like she could run off and get you in deep trouble. Who would she run to? Other than 'away from the freak.' He nodded, sighing, as he stood. "A fair question, Alex-san. One best answered by a demonstration."

He walked into the bathroom, next to the sink, giving her a moment to follow to the door. "No girlfriend. I hang on to women's clothes for... practical reasons." He turned on the tap, letting cold water flow for a moment, then sticking a hand into the flow.

The transformation is immediate. One moment, a young Japanese man, perhaps five foot one, stands there in worn t-shirt and slacks. The next, he is replaced by a female of indeterminate ancestry, auburn hair and green eyes at odds with Asian features. "I had a run in with a sorcerer a few years ago, who decided to curse me," she says, "Cold water changes me one way, hot water changes me back."

She turns off the cold water, starts the hot and gives it a minute to reach a proper temperature. A hand slips under, and the Japanese man is back, brown eyes meeting Alex's for the first time in a few long, nervous moments. "One fight in girl-form without a bra was enough to convince me to keep the appropriate underwear around. They might not be big, but it hurts when they bounce around. And most of the time it's like the water is seeking me. I was honestly a bit surprised I didn't get splashed in the coffee shop." A shrug and a feeble smile. "So, yeah. That's my dark secret."

Now, to hope she doesn't flee screaming into the night, or accuse me of being a pervert or something.

"That's... just as strange as everything else that's happened for the hour? Two hours?" Alex shakes her head, in utter disbelief.


Alex shudders a bit at the bra comment, and absently rubs one for an instant. "Tell me about it. When I was fighting those thugs, it felt like these were going to be ripped off."

She pauses, then looks down at the sink."Are magic based transsexuals common?"

"I don't know how common they are, really. I mean, I think mine was something of a special case. The sorcerer was working for someone else, so I think this was Chang's idea of getting even. Beyond that, the gods seem to have a twisted sense of humor, and even past that you have perverted mages and-"

The penny dropped with a heft clang. ...felt like these were going to be ripped off... magic transsexuals common... "Oh. Oh! Oh, kuso, I didn't realize." A beat as memories of the night replayed in this light. "Uh, sorry if I was too... grabby? I... I'm not articulating myself very well again."

[OOC: 18:31, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 14 using 1d20+8. Arcane lore re gender bender magic.]

 A breath. "It exists. It takes many forms, from the sort of thing inflicted on me to, well, to people with temporary versions for, er, 'couples time.' I've been trying to find a cure for my curse for years." Oh brilliant, let her(him?) think it's impossible. "But, I mean, uh, I've been told I've got a really stubborn version of the magic on me, it might be easier to cure in your case. Uh, that's why I'm in Emerald City, there's a mage here rumored to know a bit about this sort of thing."

Another beat as he tried to think about how to respond, and quashed the urge to blurt, "So is 'Alex' short for 'Alexander?' Because I was thinking 'Alexis.' Some part of his brain, at least, was still working; he only asked, "This was part of what brought you here and gave you fast healing and strength and whatever other powers you might have, isn't it?"

Alex nods, seeming to follow Jiro's rambling. "I have no idea but... seems likely." She says, turning the cold water on. She squeezes her eyes shut and sticks her hand in the stream. Her hand gets wet, nothing more.

"Worth a shot at least." she says, sounding disappointed. "Yeah, when I went to bed last night I had a beard and a pot belly. Now... way to bloody strange. What are the chances of two magically transexual people running into each other?"

Alex pauses a moment to consider this. "Pretty good, I guess. I really hope there was some form of intelligent design or something behind all this. Because if it was random..."

Jiro shrugs. "I suspect the Gods have a sense of humor, Alex-san. A twisted one. Either that, or there is some mad, sadistic being of omnipotent power deliberately messing with my life like this. If there is, and I ever find him, I intend to punch him in the mouth."

He heads back for the main room. "I... Sorry, this feels really feeble, even to me, but a night's sleep might help you feel better. I'll take the couch, let you have the bed, if you like. You've had a much, much worse day than me. You deserve it."

And to think, you were feeling sorry for yourself a couple days ago. At least you understand your power, came into it slowly. She(he?)'s had it thrust upon him(her?) all at once, and in a sudden, shocking way.

"I wish there was more I could offer as help, but, well, that's all that comes to mind." A pause as his mind rolled roughly on over the situation. "I... Forgive me, I can think of no way to ask this without being rude, but I fear I must know. How do you wish to be referred to, as male or female? I intend no disrespect, purely the opposite."

"I'll hold his arms for you. Just don't hit him as hard as you did that vampire. I can't fly... I think."



"To be honest, most of the time I sleep better on a couch then a bed. No idea why. Of course this isn't even my own FRACKING BODY, but... that's okay. Maybe I'll be lucky and wake up in my own room, in my own body, with some strange material to turn into a short story. Couch will be fine."



"Don't worry about offending me. You'll have to really try to piss me off... unless whatever taught me how to fight and put on a bra also put some random berserk button landmines. Wouldn't THAT be just a treat. Uhhh... to answer your question... I have no fracking clue. I think of myself as a guy but... you start using the male pronouns and it will probably attract some strange looks. Let me sleep on, okay?"

"If you insist, Alex-san. And perhaps you will be so fortunate." Never mind the fact that manners and decorum any so much else demand that I take the worse of the two beds... No, I offered, she declined. Just... Don't sweat it. You'll drive yourself mad.



"As you wish, Alex-san. And you are right that, in public, such, ah, pronoun trouble, would draw attention. If you wish, I can refer to you by your aparent gender in public, and your actual gender in private. But either way, I shall let you, as you say, 'sleep on it' and I shall defer to your decision."

In a somewhat awkward silence, he prepares for the night's sleep, mind still racing.

At least for me, it's not permanent. It's inconveniant, since I still don't have the hang of manipulating my ki in female form, not nearly so well as I manipulate it in my own body, but still... I think I can only have the vaguest idea what she's going through. I wish I knew more, wish I could help more.

Merciful Kamis, please helps us find Dragoneye tomorrow. And please, let him measure up to his reputation.

And so the night comes to an end. Both our heroes sleep well enough, and both wake up in the motel room without any other surprises.

Alex woke up slowly, after a night of strange dreams. He stretched, yawned, then sat up with a jolt. He stares down at his very female chest, and says in a small voice "Not a dream after all..."

At the exclamation, Jiro woke. After a moment for his brain to catch up, he said, "Ah. I remember that reaction." He stood and stretched, rolling his shoulders to the tune of several quick cracks and pops.

"For what it's worth, you're doing better than I did, my first morning after I was cursed. We were outside, and the dew that night had been heavy." A frown at the memory. "Yes, your reaction is better than mine was. Much calmer."

A last stretch. "Still, we have a long day ahead of us and a mage to find. Do you want first crack at the bathroom, or may I take it?"

Alex just waves at the bathroom door. "You know... I should be freaking out right now. I'm a pretty laid back guy, but not THIS laid back."

"Huh, I think I am freaking out. It feels like I am, only it's really distant and there is this wall of calm between me and it. Come to think of it, that's exactly what happened last night. When those guys attacked, I just... boom. In the zone, and fighting like a pro. Fear was so far from my mind, I didn't notice it until afterwards."

Alex closes her eyes tight for a moment and takes a deep breath. "I don't think my body is the only thing that was changed."

Jiro paused in the bathroom doorway at Alex's words. "I, too, understand that, and I know full well how... unnerving a feeling it is." He glanced away, cheeks heating. Why'd you say that? You gotta explain now, and this is way too embarassing?

Because a comerade in arms is in pain, and this might help. What is the quote... shared pain is lessened, shared joy increased. Thus do we refute entropy.

He looked back. "My mind is also affected by this curse, at least somewhat. In my cursed form I... notice things... that I should not. About... how attractive some men are. It is distracting, and embarassing." He tried to smile, knew it would be hollow and faint. "At least you have been given excellent skills and useful knowledge."

Embarrassment overtook him. Unable to make himself wait for a response, he retreated into the bathroom, pulled the door shut. Well done, baka. She probably thinks you're one of the biggest perverts on the planet now. That'll really help things. He stripped and turned on the shower, waited out of the stall for it to heat, and looked to the mirror. "Hopefully I just got my daily allotment of stupid words out of my head. Kamis, I hope we can find this mage."

Alex doesn't respond to Jiro at first, just allowing him to retreat in silence.

"I'm glad I'm not the only one..." she whispers as the shower starts.

Jiro wanted to linger over the shower, but knew he couldn't. If nothing else, there was probably a finite amount of hot water - it was a fairly cheap motel - and to leave others without it needlessly would be poor form. He cleaned up, confirmed that, like always, he had nothing in the way of shaving to do. Hadn't since the curse. Which made sense, and he'd lost a little sleep on more than one occasion wondering what else it was messing up in his body's systems.

All too soon, he was done, and had to face his fate.

"Sorry if I said anything out of line, Alex-san," he began, "And I did not mean to insult your skills." Even though I've been training since I could walk to get where I am, and you, by your own admittion, got handed strength, skill, and power without any time put in. "Once you're done in the bathroom, why don't we break our fast and start looking for that mage." And did she ask for those skills and powers? No! They came along with a curse as bad as your own, Koji, so stop being a resentful jackass.

Saying his peace, he gets out of Alex's way at the door and digs his notes out of his backpack, reviewing what he knows about Dragoneye in preparation for finding him.

"Insult me skills? How do you think you... never mind. Tell you what, since you've been apologizing constantly since I've met you, and I've been saying thank you for the same amount of time, let's just call it even and save our respective verbal tics for something major." Alex grins. "Say... if I slap you then you'll know that an apology is needed. Until the, I'll let it ride. It's not like you are trying to insult or belittle me. Hell, even if you were, it's not like I can't take it after this long."

Jiro couldn't help himself, he snorted. "That is fair enough, Alex-san. Let us prepare for our search." Either I'm being oversensative or there's just some cultural differences involved. Or both. Probably both. Stop overthinking this, Koji. You have much to do, and likely not enough time.

If that vampire had friends, this night will be interesting.

Jiro doesn't have much information on Dragoneye.

1 - Dragoneye has been active in the city for some time, and seems to be associated with the local Chinese Community.
2 - Dragoneye is elusive. Either reclusive or busy.
3 - Dragoneye is probably a male, but Jiro isn't sure.
4 - Dragoneye is reputed to be powerful, but the details are sketchy. This isn't the most promising lead that Jiro has ever had, but it's far from the worst. At least it's in a city.

After the shower, Alex comes out to join Jiro. "So what do you know about this Dragoneye?"

"He's a bit of a recluse, but he associates with the city's Chinese community, and is reputed to be powerful, though I grant I have less details than I like." He grins. "By my standards, this is actually a fairly good lead, to be honest. If it does not pan out, I have a few others in America, but it would be some travel reaching them."

A shrug. "Still. Breakfast first. Searching on an empty stomach seldom goes well. I have the address of what is reputed to be an excellent Chinese restaurant at the edge of Chinatown." A careful question or two while eating might even speed our search.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:42, Thu 03 Feb 2011.

"Hmmm... sounds like it's worth a shot. Breakfast, at the very least, sounds like a plan to me." Alex said. "Before we go there though, do you think we could stop and get some sandals or something? My feet held up just fine last night but... it wasn't really comfortable."

"Not a problem at all. I spotted a dollar store yesterday, they should have sandals." Do not make a joke about her only being a girl for a day and already wanting to go shoe shopping. She would kill you, and you would deserve it.

Setting an easy pace, and keeping an eye on the streets as he walks, Jiro looks for anything suspicious or out of place, both to the store and beyond it. Kamis willing, this will go smoothly and we'll at least be able to find Dragoneye. Beyond that, who can say?

[OOC: Taking 10 on notice for a 22 as we walk]

"Thanks. This barefoot thing is getting old."

The trip to dollar store is uneventful. Alex soon finds a cheap pair of flip-flops that allow her to avoid the hazards of barefoot travel. They aren't anything fancy, and Jiro certainly wouldn't want to fight in them, but they work.

The pair makes a couple other quick stops where Alex grabs a couple other essentials, like a purse and a wallet.

While the name wasn't the greatest, The Most Auspicious Chinese Restaurant turns out to have good food. It's a smallish family run business, and the teenage boy serving the pair is obviously a bit smitten by Alex.

While doing the shopping, Alex makes a point of picking up a half decent multi-tool and a small 3" or 4" bowling ball. If asked, she just shakes her head. "Just seems like a good idea for some reason."

At the restaurant Alex can tell she's been checked out, and while the guy isn't a jerk about it, it does clearly make her uncomfortable.

Szechuan wasn't Jiro's favorite style of cooking, but this place certainly did it well. And it's better than most Western crap. And what most Western restaurants pass off as Japanese cuisine. Noticing their server's obvious twiterpation with Alex was a bit annoying - he'd been where she was, and knew how uncomfortable it could be, but there wasn't really a way to deal with it that he could see. Overtly telling the kid to back off would make it seem like he was defending 'his' girl from a suitor, which would be the wrong message to send Alex right now. The wrong message by far. And in the close confines of the restaurant, he couldn't exactly offer words of comfort - far too easy for those listening to wonder just how a man like him could know about that sort of thing.

He settled for catching her eye and giving her a sympathetic look. Once they had more privacy, he'd talk more openly.

He could, at least, distract the youth. "My friend," he began in Chinese, shooting Alex an apologetic glance at excluding her by language - but given what he wanted to ask about, anything to make him seem less like an outsider was likely to help. "I am wondering if you could help - I am new to the area, and wish to learn more." Once he has the waiter's attention, he begins making small talk, and trying to learn about the local Chinese community in general, and Dragoneye in specific.


[OOC: 16:05, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 15 using 1d20+7. Gather info on Dragoneye.]

Alex seems to recognize what Jiro's doing and does what she can to help. Since she can't speak the language, she simply makes a point to smile at the boy.

For some reason she knows it will do the job.

[OOC: 19:28, Today: Alex rolled 20 using 1d20+10. Diplomacy. ]

It's a slow morning, and the kid is happy to chat. Especially with a pretty girl smiling at him while he's doing it.

The kid fills Jiro's head with all kinds of trivial, yet potentially useful information. The marital artist starts to get a good handle on the community. It sounds like it's quiet, secure, and well run. A good place to live.

When the conversation gets steered towards Dragoneye, the kid falls quiet and looks uncomfortable. He looks like he'll decline to say anything else, but Alex chooses just that moment to bend over and scratch the side of her leg. The kid is rendered momentarily speechless as he gets a look down the front of her shirt, and blushes bright red as she sits up and looks at him. Stammering a bit, he leaps to answering the question to change the subject.

"Dragoneye. You don't want to get on his bad side. He's the reason everything's so good around here. If you make trouble, he and his men make trouble for you. I really don't know much about him, but if you want to see him be careful. He doesn't like outsiders much."

"That is fair enough. I intend no trouble - quite the opposite." 'He and his men?' oh, that's a good sign. Sounds like a strongarm man. "I seek only knowledge, and have heard of him from afar. Do you know how one such as I might contact him?"

[OOC: Taking 10 on Sense Motive with Skill Mastery for a total of 22 - why does he seem so scared of Dragoneye?]

"Me? The only way I KNOW to contact him is to start making a trouble and you wouldn't want that... Uhh... If you really need to see him for some reason, try asking around down near the waterfront. He knows everything that goes on, so he'll find you."

[OOC: Jiro gets the sense this isn't the fear of a bad man per say, but rather more like a force of nature. Dragoneye is so much bigger then the kid that he doesn't want to attract any kind of attention. Even if he wasn't planning to do so, he could crush the kid like a bug.

Also, Jiro is quite sure the kid is telling the truth.]

"My thanks, friend. Your aid is appreciated." Once the waiter retreats, he switches back to English and turns to his companion. "Dragoneye is a power here. The boy, at least, considers him like unto a force of nature. He suggests searching near the waterfront." A pause. "And Alex-san? Thank you for.. distracting him. I believe it helped a great deal." In a voice pitched to carry no further than her ears, he added, "I know full well how uncomfortable that kind of attention can be."

Quickly, he finishes eating and settles the bill, thanking their waiter once more for help and leaving a healthy tip. To the waterfront.

[OOC: as we hit the road, taking 10 on my notice for 22 as we go. Looking for anything that stands out as dangerous or out of place.]

"Yeah, no problem. I just thought of myself as a teenager and acted. Guess it worked."
What I won't say is that I didn't even need to think about it or how natural that felt...
"So we are going to track down the mysterious Chinese mystic defender of Chinatown, who is subtle and quick to anger. Sounds like an excellent idea." She says with a bit of humour in her voice. "So, when this all drops in the pot and we find out that Lo Pan plans to open up a six demon bag on our butts, what's the plan?"

Jiro quirked a smile at the reference. "Well, he seems to be well liked, and if he is even half so powerful as he is reputed to be, a direct confrontation would likely go... poorly. And would not endear us to the locals." A shrug. "Honestly? If it does go poorly, our best bet would likely be to escape and regroup, rather than try to fight directly."

And oh, could it go badly. Shall I count the ways? First and formost, he could be a patriot who hates the Japanese. And I can't deny we've been rough on China through history. Or he could have Triad connections and want to kill me from that mess. Or he could have a weird moral code and decide that I'm an abomination against god that needs to die like that Baptist did back in Calgary. Or-

Shut. Up. I need to focus. I need to be polite. And I need to not think about that incident too loudly where a telepath might overhear. The statute of limitations hasn't run out yet.

Clearing his throat, he started for the waterfront. "Still, no need to invite the Demon Murphy. If we're calm and polite, they will hopefully be the same."

"I'm not a warrior, or martial artist, or a soldier. Nor am I a psycho. I'm all for not causing trouble. I have no practical knowledge of what to do in this situation. That said, I've read plenty of theory." Alex paused, then continued with the air of someone quoting something. "Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everybody you meet."

She glances around, noting that there wasn't anyone standing close enough to overhear.

"If this goes south, and we do end up needing to fight, what's the plan? Where do we run off to meet? Do we have a code word for it's a trap or time to run or how many of the bastards can we make die?" Alex says with deadly earnestness, which fades as she suddenly looks unsure. "Not that I think I could kill someone intentionally. Not without a lot of provocation."

Jiro nods slowly. I must remember, despite how well she fights, she is in many ways a novice. How should we do this... "I do not know this city so well as I would like, to make plans to elude a man like this in his own city. If we have to retreat, let us scatter. We can meet up at the Grand Tower.  Most who live here should be able to give directions, so if we have to flee, flee until you think you have shaken pursuit, then make your way there." He shrugs. "It might be too obvious, but it is a good distance from Chinatown, and should be safe enough. Safer than going straight back to the motel, at least."

"As for a code word... well, if we must flee, I will cue you with a shout of 'Abunai' - which is Japanese for 'look out.' Perhaps not original, but it should serve, and I am unlikely to say it by accident in conversation." And should we need to flee, I will do my best to cover our flight. I believe I am faster than she is.

"I do not think we should plan to fight, and certainly not to the death. But should such measures become necessary, I will announce it with... Let's see, she seems to have a fondness for Western pop culture... something she might recognize that still brings the right idea to light... "Cambreadth."  Kamis willing, it will not come to that.

Alex looks relieved at Jiro's words. "You'd not believe how happy I am to know that March of Cambreadth exists here. Not to mention the fact you're not looking at me like I'm crazy. After my first two life threatening fights of my life last night, I'm feeling... paranoid."

Counting things off on her fingers, Alex continues. "So, Grand Tower, Abunny, and Cambredth. Sounds good. One more though. I'll just work bacon into the conversation, followed by a tree if I think it's a trap."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:05, Fri 04 Feb 2011.

Given that the March of Cambreadth is a song about last stands... That she finds it relieving in this context is unnerving. Or it could be different, where she's from. "Bacon trees. Got it." He fought the urge to smirk. "And under the circumstances, a bit of paranoia is probably healthy."

"Let's head to the waterfront, Alex-san, and see what we shall see."

The Waterfront. Home of docks and plenty of places to entertain dockworkers and ship's crews. The kid said that asking around would probably get Dragoneye's attention.

Where do you want to start?

Jiro took a long moment to survey the waterfront, taking a deep breath in the process - he was a child of an island nation, and the smell of the sea was a balm to his nerves. "There are any number of places we could ask around, Alex-san, but not all would be good ideas. I do not wish it to seem that we are looking for trouble." He spoke slowly and deliberately, to keep his growing nerves and distraction from unduly mangling his English. "A bar, I think, would be a bad idea. Around here, they would be full of sailors. Too many strangers for the locals to want to talk." Too many drunks waving around drinks. Too many chances to get splashed with something watered down, deliberately or from melting ice, and shocking people by transforming. "But some place calmer, quieter... if there are fewer strangers, we may have better luck with people, they might be more willing to talk to us." Of course, we're strangers, too, so this entire exercise might be in vain. Even odds we'll put people on edge just asking around. But even if no-one will lead us to Dragoneye, perhaps they will lead him to us.

His eyes lighted on a small noodle shop a few blocks down the street. There were a few people there that he could see, but they were between the crowds of morning and lunch. "There, for instance, would be a good place to start, I believe." He set off, trusting Alex to follow.

Inside, he returned the proprietor's greeting cheerfully, and when he reached the counter, asked, "Good day, kind sir. I am new here, and seeking information. What can you tell me about this place?"

[OOC: I'll lead in casually again, but after a bit I'll ask about Dragoneye directly.

 19:22, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 14 using 1d20+7. Gather information on Dragoneye. +2 from Alex's Aid Another, so 16 total.]

Alex nodded. "Makes sense to me. You lead, I'll follow."

Jiro learns any number of interesting facts, but people tend to clam up when it came to asking about Dragoneye. Even the pretty girl factor wasn't enough to help pry any information out of people.

The better part of an hour passes. The pair decides to grab a cold drink at a local store, and while they are enjoying it a man approaches. He is a Chinese man, appearing to be in his early to mid thirties and wearing business casual clothing.

"Good day, travelers. Welcome to the Eastern District. How are you enjoying our little slice of China?" He says to them.

Jiro and Alex both find the man impossible to read.

I'll take this as a sign that he heard about us. Jiro smiled casually, and said, "Quite nicely, so far. This is a pleasant part of town, and the smell of sea reminds me of home." He bowed, indicated Alex with a slight gesture. "I am Jiro Koji, and this is my companion, Alex. We are humble seekers of knowledge, who have come a great distance-" voluntarily or otherwise "-to learn. Rumor speaks of a man of great wisdom who calls this area his home. I hope to find an opportunity to meet him." Careful now, Jiro, don't overplay your hand. It's not just your own head on the line if this goes south.

Trying to disguise the movement as casual, he moves just ahead of Alex, partially interposing himself between the stranger and the girl.

The man remains unreadable, his voice showing no emotion beyond polite curiosity.
"Ah, Seekers of Wisdom. What wisdom do you seek in this humble town?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:30, Sat 05 Feb 2011.

Well. That was... direct. "We have both suffered from malign magics, and seek to know ways to reverse them. Or at least mitigate their effects."

I doubt Alex would like me to be more specific than that on the street, and I don't much care to go into my own curse in public. I just hope that wasn't the wrong thing to say.

"Ah. I see. So it is Dragoneye that you seek. I may be able to get you an audience." The man says. "Of course, he is a busy man and many seek his attention. I wonder how I might convince him that it would be worth his time to see you?"

By this point, there is no one else in the area. People seem to have drift off elsewhere.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:43, Sat 05 Feb 2011.

Alex stands behind Jiro, keeping an eye on the area. She doesn't know what to say here, so she says nothing.

Jiro gives the man a measuring look. He knows something. About time one of these leads paid off. Still. How do we make ourselves worth his time?

He glanced back at Alex, took in her expression, gave her a brief nod. She trusts you. That's a mighty big step up from 'not total scumvermin.' Don't fuck up now, Koji.

"Alex-san and I posess... unusual gifts. Perhaps we might preform a service for Dragoneye. A favor for a favor, I believe the phrase is?"

Alex's eyes go wide, and she stares at Jiro's back. He didn't just??? REALLY?

This was going to suck.

"A favor for a favor. The secret of how the world truly works." The man smiles faintly. "Come with me. Let us continue this conversation in a more suitable setting."

The man turns to lead the pair away.

As he follows the man, Jiro glances back at Alex, and murmurs, "Sorry, but I couldn't think of something better. I have some ready cash for 'walking around money' as the phrase goes, but not enough to try and buy my way into an audience." A pause. "And in my experience, most mages prefer favors to cash. If what they want is too much, we can always say no." We'll probably have to run like hell right after, but we can say no.

Alex looks worried. Not scared spitless, but worried. "You're the expert. I'll trust you."

Giving no sign that he hears the whispered conversation, the man leads the pair to a small gym. There is no sign out front, but once inside it clear what the place is.

There are a few dozen men training various styles of the martial arts. Some art sparing, some are working on solo routines, while others are engaged in what looks like just short of a full on brawl. Elsewhere, there are men lifting weights and doing other normal gym things.

When Jiro enters into view, he attracts some hostile looks that are quelled with a gesture from the guide. Alex attracts other looks, but the same gesture quells those as well.

"Favors for favors. If I judge you correctly, this is where it may be learned if you can carry out such a favor."

Jiro gives the man a respectful nod. If he's not Dragoneye I'll eat my hat. He shifted into a deceptively relaxed looking stance - looking at ease while ready to spring into action at a moment's notice. He let his gaze wander over the various people in the gym, especially the fighters.

A breath, and he focused his ki, ready for what may come. "I understand. What sort of tests would you have in mind?"

[OOC: shifting the array into Ki Focus. Using Assesment and SKill Mastery to take 10 on Sense Motive on the various gathered fighters, trying to gague how powerful they are (22 is my result from a take-10)

The man smiles broadly "That is for you to judge. If you feel your attire unsuitable, avail yourselves to the that which lays within the locker room. You will find in quite clearly labeled." He says this with a pointed glance at Alex.

While Jiro can still get no sense of anything about their guide, he can read most of the fighters like an open book. Most of them are substantially less skilled then he is, but there are a few who might offer him some challenge, albeit a small one.

People are also sizing Jiro up, judging the newcomer. Most of them have dismissed Alex, but a few seem to be looking at her with something other then lust in their eyes.

Lovely. Playing out rope to see if I hang myself, perhaps. Jiro looked over the assembled gym patrons, glanced to Alex. Let's see if I can avoid that. Still standing in his 'relaxed' stance, Jiro nods and says, "Well, I have many skills that might be useful to one such as yourself. I am a martial artist, who seeks to master his ki, and can turn it to many uses." Focusing, he manifests a touch of his energy as a nimbus of pale blue light around his left hand, held before him at chest level. "The one of which I am most proud, is my ability to heal. Is there anyone here injured, or even just sore, who would be willing to let this one demonstrate such healing?"

Kamis willing, this'll go over a little better than just challenging someone. Though I guess that'll make a decent fallback.

[OOC: shifting the array to healing mode, if anyone volunteers I'll heal them.]

Alex looks at the guide, then at the she is in, then at Jiro. She shrugs helplessly. What the hell am I supposed to do now?

This action attracts a great deal of attention, yet no immediate takers. Then one of the men lifting weights sits up. He gives Jiro a long, measuring look. Then he speaks two words. "Chen Míng."

His spotter jumps a bit, but doesn't hesitate. He walks over to Jiro, sporting an obvious limp. He makes a small bow. "I am Chen Ming, and it would be my honor to allow you this demonstration."

Chen Ming stands waiting whatever Jiro should choose to do.

Better than I expected. Okay, let's do this. "Arigato, Chen-san, for this trust. I shall endevor to be worthy of it." He bows, hands together, and then kneels, giving the ankle a measuring look. "A minor sprain, I am guessing?"

He exhaled slowly, his hands surrounded by a nimbus of pale blue light. He slowly, deliberately moved them closer to the ankle, trying not to make any surprising or sudden moves. "This should not hurt a bit, but you might feel a tingling sensation."

The nimbus of blue light touched Chen's ankle, and seemed to draw into it, absorbing into the skin. For a brief moment, it glowed with residual light, which faded slowly. Jiro drew back, stood, and gave another bow. "That, I think, should help."

[OOC: healing ability gives him a +9 on his recovery check, I believe. Keeping the array in healing even after I'm done.]

Alex watches wide eyed at this. It was one thing to feel it, when you are to worked up to pay attention. It was quite another for someone to casually do magic right in front of you. "Woah."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:35, Sat 05 Feb 2011.

A ripple passes through the room, and even the tempo of the training brawl slows for a moment. All eyes are on Chen Míng.

He puts his full weight on his injured leg, then lifts the other in a slow circular motion. Chen Míng places both feet back on the ground. "It is well. Thank you." he says with a bow. Chen Míng then walks back to the man he had been spotting for and whispers a few words, receiving a nod in response.

Another ripple passes through the crowd, and people go back to what they were doing for the most part. The guide simply watches in silence.

The weight lifter stares at the pair for a few moments more, then stands and walks over to them. This draws the attention of everyone agin.

From the way he moves, Jiro can tell the man is about as skilled as he is, both defensively and offensively. Judging by what he can see of the weights, Jiro can also tell that he would be hard pressed to bench press that much. Jiro is confidant that he does have a very slight edge in speed, although his shorter reach would be a disadvantage.

"Very impressive. Healing is a hard skill to master, harder by far then destruction. That injury had resisted my own attempts to heal, and threatened to set back Chen Míng's progress substantially." He gives a small, respectful bow to Jiro "I am Zhang Peter. Better known by other names, but none that are of concern at present. I judge you worthy of the Second Test."

Zhang Peter says these words as though they are of great import. Certainly the crowd seems to think so.

He bows to Jiro again, then turns to face Alex. "You. You are not his mate, concubine, or play toy despite what some are thinking. You are more then you seem, else you would not have been brought here.  Show me. Are you worthy of the Second Test?" Again, there seems to be something ritual like here. Jiro gets the sense that it would be unwise to interrupt.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:03, Sat 05 Feb 2011.

"I am glad. As I said, it is one of the skills I am most proud of. The body is an amazing thing, and can heal itself well if given... the proper nudges." A shrug. "Using my ki to guide a body's healing efforts, as much as supplying additional power, is the essence of my healing abilities. A different path, perhaps, than some, but I would be lying if I did not say I would like to see how you heal, to compare, Zhang-san."



Jiro tensed at his words. That's... blunt. And a bit rude. You've been better about this than I've had any right to expect so far, Alex, please don't lose it now.

Alex watches the exchange with interest, starting to relax a bit. The he turns to face her.

Alex looks alternately flustered, scared, confused, and a bit angry. The first three fade, replaced by the uncanny calm that Jiro's seen before. The anger stays.

"Honestly couldn't tell you. I don't know a damn thing about the test or what makes one worthy. I don't have any fancy tricks like my friend here has. But I'll give it my best shot." There is a certain edge to her voice when she says

Jiro notices that the bowling ball that Alex bought was suddenly in her hand, and that she is looking really, really focused.

She moved in a flash, throwing the ball... backwards?

Quick Draw the ball, Full round action to Aim at an adjacent target then...
23:14, Today: Alex rolled 47 using 1d20+28. AOA5,ACC5, w/aim.
DC 18 Save if it hits. Please tell me that hit.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:04, Sat 05 Feb 2011.

The ball hits the wall above the door and bounces up. It ricochets off the ceiling to hit a set of weights. From there it bounces in a straight line towards Zhang Peter.

It hits him right between the shoulder blades. Zhang stumbles forward a step, and catches the falling ball behind his back, his eyes locked on Alex.

The room falls silent.

Zhang brings the ball up to look at it. He considers it for a moment, then looks at Alex. She meets his gaze levelly. The tension in the room is tremendous.

He then tilts his head back and laughs. "I was right about you. You ARE no man's toy." Zhang bows. "I judge you worthy of the Second Test."

"Kuso," Jiro said quietly, genuinely impressed by the shot - he knew warriors well enough to know that was no accident - and more than a little concerned about their host's reaction. Merciful Kamis let him be a man of good temper - he was more or less absolutely provoking her to begin with...



Jiro felt himself start to breath again. Domo Arigato, spirits.

Alex returns the bow, awkwardly at first, but manages to turn it into something vaguely resembling grace by the end. "I'm glad you liked it. So, what's the next step?"

"Next, you wait." Zhang replies, tossing the ball back to Alex. He turns to face the still nameless guide. "Go make preparations for the Second Test."

The guide bows once, and walks into one of back rooms. Zhang then returns his attention to the pair. "I suspect you will succeed in the Second Test. I will now go to inform Dragoneye that he may soon have guests. Make yourselves at home here as you prepare yourselves. Use the equipment or test yourselves against the others as you feel right. Whatever you choose, be ready. The Second Test is not for the unprepared or faint of heart."

Zhang bows one more time, then leaves through the same doors that the Guide did.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:57, Sun 06 Feb 2011.

Jiro nodded to Alex. "You did well. And at some point, I would love to learn that trick." More quietly he added, "At some point when we have more privacy, we should put some time into finding out what exactly your skills encompas. It might look like uncertainty or weakness here and now, however."

After waiting for her response, he walks to one of the mats, removing his shoes and stretching. "If anyone would like a friendly spar," he began, addressing the gathered crowd, "I would be happy to accomodate them."
[OOC: if anyone's up to sparring, Jiro will be happy to, but unless the sparring partner is up to his general level of strength and skill, he won't be using his ki abilities, simply fighting unenhansed for the sake of a fair fight. If someone who looks to be a decent match takes him up on it, he'll use the Array, but mostly just Ki Focus, and not the nastier bits. If there's no takers, he'll do kata.]

Alex nodded, and whispered back "I was probably the most surprised person in the room when I did that. This is one seriously fracked up situation. Now... do you have a plan or are you playing this by ear?"

"Entirely by ear, I am afraid. I do not wish to give offence to these people, and I do not want to squander this chance to learn." A shrug. "Though I am more hopeful about what sort of favour he might ask for."

"Ok. I guess I do the same and try not to get us killed." she replies. Alex then begins some warm up stretches, not being sure of her next step.

There is a bit of a stir, and it looks like a few people show interest in taking Jiro up on his challenge. There is a great deal of unspoken interplay between those here, to determine who will have the honor of doing so. Jiro observes some interesting facts about the dynamics of the power structure in this place, as the man who finally chooses to challenge him approaches. Chen Míng, the man he had just healed.

"It would be my honor to spar with you. I only hope that I prove a worth foe, healer." Chen Míng says with a bow. "The rules of challenges are simple here. Do not seek to cause permanent injury. Defeat comes when an opponent yields, is removed from the agreed limits of the battle, or is rendered unable to fight."

Chen Míng takes his place on one side of a large mat. "I propose that this be the field." he says with a gesture. "Does this seem suitable to yourself?"

[OOC: Jiro feels that his attack and defense bonuses are higher then Chen Ming's but not considerably so.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:07, Sun 06 Feb 2011.

Jiro bows slightly to Chen. "Those conditions seem very reasonable to myself." He slid into a ready stance.  When I healed him, I had some sense of his ki. He was strong but not, I think, well trained in its use. This should be interesting.

[OOC: 19:10, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 11 using 1d20+6. Rollin' Initiative.

Full defense this round; I want to get a feel for Chen's skills before I go on the offensive. The array is not currently active.

Chen is the first to move, taking a step forward and launching a gentle, probing attack. He seems more focused on defense then offense at this point, and the blow goes wide.

Jiro also remains on the defensive, but it does not stop Chen's next attack. It's a thing of beauty, a punch that strikes Jiro's chest cleanly, but does not leave him open to a counter attack. If he had been even slightly less focused on defense, Chen would have landed stunning blow.

OOC: 22:16, Today: Gamemaster rolled 19 using 1d20+8. Chen Míng Init.
22:17, Today: Gamemaster rolled 7 using 1d20+3. Def Attack 5.
Nothing. Jiro takes total defense. Chen attacks.
22:24, Today: Gamemaster rolled 23 using 1d20+3. Def Attack 5. It's a nat 20, but since it would have missed if it wasn't an auto hit, it's not a crit. DC18 toughness save.

Jiro's eyes went wide as Chen Ming's attacks sailed in. The one that hit had hit him cleanly, and he felt it's effects sure and true.

Get your head out of your ass, baka!

Still not drawing strongly upon his Ki, Jiro danced out of Chen's reach, then back in, faking a punch to cover another blow.
[OOC: 19:29, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 14 using 1d20+10. toughness save vrs Chen. That fails, so bruised, I believe.

taking 10 on an Acrobatic Bluff (22) and then attacking, still sans array.

19:35, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 26 using 1d20+10. Attacking Chen, nonlethal, DC 18 toughness save if it hits.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:36, Sun 06 Feb 2011.

The room is focused on the match between Jiro and Chen Ming. Almost every eye is watching it.

Almost.

Alex hears a voice speaking right in her ear. "Pretty thing, thinks she's tough. Your trick may have fooled Zhang Peter but I know the truth. You're soft."

A hand brushes the side of her face as the man walks around her. His posture brings to mind that of a predator. Hungry. "I think you need to be shown your place. On your face with my jībā in your hóng rì. You'd like that, wouldn't you? You chòu biǎozi."

Jiro, distracted by the matter at hand, sees none of this.

Chen smiles at Jiro's feint, but isn't quite fast enough to avoid the blow. Jiro's strike nearly takes Chen Ming square between the eyes, but the he manages to roll his head to the side at just the right moment to allow the fist to cause no real harm.

"Very well done." Chen says, as he prepares to launch a spinning kick, only to abort at the last moment with a strong right jab.

[OOC: 22:50, Today: Gamemaster rolled 21 using 1d20+4. Fiat Re-roll.
22:49, Today: Gamemaster rolled 5 using 1d20+4. Toughness Save.
22:38, Today: Gamemaster rolled 22 using 1d20+12. Acrobatic Resist.
22:52, Today: Gamemaster rolled 17 using 1d20+12. Acrobatic Bluff.
22:53, Today: Gamemaster rolled 22 using 1d20+8. Chen Míng Attack.
Even without the bluff that should hit. DC18 save.

Jiro - Bruised 1
Chen - Uninjured
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:28, Mon 07 Feb 2011.

Jiro staggered back from that strike, head reeling. Kuso! He's genuinely good!

He shakes it off as quickly as possible, refocusing himself to his defense.

[OOC: 20:00, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 13 using 1d20+10. toughness save vrs Chen.]

Alex freezes at the voice in her ear, and shudders slightly at the 'caress'. While she might not speak Chinese, she has no trouble understanding what he is implying.

"Oh you did not just say that, you mother pocker! Take that drek and shove it before I shove it down your throat. I've had enough of this drek today." Alex voice is low with hate.

[OOC: 23:08, Today: Alex rolled 22 using 1d20+3. Intimidate. ]

Seeing an opening, Chen presses his attack. However, Jiro is less hurt then Chen believed, and the blow goes wide.

23:10, Today: Gamemaster rolled 14 using 1d20+6. Power Attack 2.
Chen misses

Jiro - Bruised 2
Chen - Uninjured

"Oh, little kitty thinks she's a tiger. I'll show you what a real tiger is."

The man steps in to seize Alex in an groping embrace and plant a rough kiss upon her face.

[OOC: The man uses his own skill mastery to ignore the intimidation check]

Jiro let himself smile at Chen's missed strike, and, blissfully ignorant of the drama developing by Alex, pressed his attack, feinting low before striking high.

[OOC: Taking 10 on Acrobatic Bluff for (10+12-1{cumulative penalty}-5{bluffing as a move action} 16 total. Defensive attacking for 4 (raising my defense bonus to 14) and making a non-ki enhanced strike.

 20:15, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 24 using 1d20+6. Defensive attack for 4 on Chen.]

Not expecting something so blatent, Alex is caught by surprise and the man almost manages to get his hands on her. "I SAID, LEAVE ME ALONE!" She shouts, and lashes out with one hand.

[OOC: 23:17, Today: Alex rolled 23 using 1d20+17. AOA 5, unarmed.
23:18, Today: Alex rolled 33 using 1d20+19. Grapple Check.
Throwing the bastard across the room.

This time, Chen falls for the bluff completely. He takes the full brunt of the punch and lands heavily on the mat, gasping for breath.

[OOC: 23:22, Today: Gamemaster rolled 13 using 1d20+12. Acrobatic Resist.
23:23, Today: Gamemaster rolled 5 using 1d20+2. Toughness Save.

Jiro - Bruised 2
Chen - Staggered, stunned and so loses his action]

The man starts to snear at Alex, until her fist finds his jaw. His head snaps backwards, and she grabs him by the throat. With almost casual ease, she throws him clear across the room to land with a heavy thud against the far wall.

"YOU BITCH! YOU'LL PAY FOR THAT." He shouts, as soon as his breath returns to his lungs.

[OOC: 23:30, Today: Gamemaster rolled 10 using 1d20+9. Toughness Save.
Staggered, Stunned. Auto-fails the Grapple check.]

As Chen falls, Jiro felt his smile pull into a smirk, but quickly schooled his features into something less... bragging. "A good spar," he began, offering the other man a hand up. "I underestimated you, and nearly paid for it. You have impressive-"



Eyes widening, he whirled towards her and watched one of the locals flying across the room. "Kuso!" Oh kamis, I should have known something like this would happen.

He drew on his power, took a long step towards Alex as Ki-born light began to flicker around him. "What did he do, Alex-san?" He eyed the crowd, wary of their reactions.

(EDIT: GM posted as I was writing this up; responding)

He fixed the man with a glare. "Back down, baka, or she will not be the only thing for you to worry about." Alex, I trust you wouldn't have tossed a man for shits and giggles. And to think, it'd been going so well. Of course one of them decided to do something stupid to her.

[OOC: activating the array, now in ki focus. Intimidate on the idiot.
20:38, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 23 using 1d20+10. Intimidate check.]
This message was last edited by the player at 04:39, Sun 06 Feb 2011.

Alex either doesn't notice or chooses ignores Jiro. She bends her legs slightly and, from a standing start, makes a flying leap and triple front roll that ends with her using the full force of her fall to add to impact of the attack.

"CARE TO TRY THAT AGAIN?" Alex screams in his face.

[OOC: 23:35, Today: Alex rolled 28 using 1d20+10. Acrobatic Jumping. Beats the DC by 13, adding 13 feet to the base jumping distance. She makes a standing Jump as a move action. With Leaping, that should be about 75 feet.
23:38, Today: Alex rolled 28 using 1d20+17. AOA 5, unarmed.
23:40, Today: Alex rolled 31 using 1d20+19. Grapple Check.
Pinning him for the moment. ]
This message was last edited by the player at 04:46, Sun 06 Feb 2011.

Jiro managed to stop himself from swearing when Alex launched herself at the man who'd offended her - it was a leap he could have likely made himself, but still impressive. He started to move to assist her-

He doesn't need our help, began a mental voice, and it stopped him cold. Whatver body s/he wears, Alex is a guy mentally, and if you do your damned 'honorable samurai' schtic with her too much - if you treat her like a defenseless waif - that's about the cruelst thing you could do to her right now.

Just like you hated it when Uncle  Tetsuhara did it to you, after you got cursed. Alex has the situation in hand. Let her handle it. You know she's gotta be riding the edge of a freakout right now, and you're the closest thing she's got to a friend here. Don't patronize her, for kami's sake.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:55, Sun 06 Feb 2011.

The man takes the hit and scream to the face without flinching. Alex goes to lock his arms behind his back, but he is stronger and angrier then he looks.

This is proven as he starts frothing at the mouth, screaming incoherent Chinese profanities, and pulls a large knife. He takes it in a two handed grip and brings in down with full force towards Alex's chest.

[ooc:23:47, Today: Gamemaster rolled 19 using 1d20+9. Toughness Save.
Bruised.
23:51, Today: Gamemaster rolled 33 using 1d20+13. Grapple Check. Escaped
Free Action to activate Rage feat, and another to quick draw a knife.
23:54, Today: Gamemaster rolled 20 using 1d20+9. Attacking Alex, power attack 5, AOA5.
Hit. DC 30 toughness save.

Jerk - Bruised, Staggered.]

Alex cries in pain as the blade sinks to the hilt in her chest. She grits her teeth, pulls the bloody dagger out, and tosses it aside.

"Won't put me down that easily, scumvermin!" She growls, seemingly still steady on her feet.

[OOC: 00:04, Today: Alex rolled 29 using 1d20+10. Hero point re-roll.
00:02, Today: Alex rolled 19 using 1d20+10. Toughness Save.
Bruised 1, Injured 1.]

As Alex shrugged off the knife blow, Jiro forced himself to relax. I know she heals quickly, but that had to hurt. A lot. But still... She's up, and I don't think she's lost it to the point of killing this idiot...

He started forward, face a mask of conflicted emotions. Fish or cut bait, Koji. Do you trust her or rush in like her noble, heroic Samurai protecting the maiden? He crossed most of the gym, neared the fight.

Alex, a stranger to this world with few enough reasons to trust anyone, and every right to flip out and run screaming into the night after we took on those vampires, trusted you. Be worthy of it.

He stopped, outside of easy lunging distance of the fight, and shifted the flow of his ki. He would trust her.

[OOC: array shifted to healing mode.]

Not wanting to get hit like that again, Alex leaps backwards and lands next to some exercise equipment. She picks up one of the empty bars for weight lifting, and tosses it like a Javelin towards her foe. It flies with surprising accuracy, all things considered.

[OOC: 00:18, Today: Alex rolled 14 using 1d20+8. Javelin Throw. DC 25 toughness save, if that hits.]

Designed for the task or not, Alex's arrow is true. It strikes him in the chest, impaling him and then embedding itself in the wall. He grunts in disbelief, and gropes at the improvised weapon for a few futile seconds before losing consciousness.

There is total silence in the room. For an instant, it isn't even broken by the sounds of breathing.

It looks like some of the men in the gym are preparing to attack the pair. They are interrupted by Chen Ming clapping his hands twice and then bowing to Alex. Soon, the entire room follows his example.

[OOC: 00:21, Today: Gamemaster rolled 11 using 1d20+9. Toughness Save. Lethal damage. Fail by 14. Staggered and Disabled. Double staggered = KO'D ]

Alex froze, staring at the results of what she had just done. She didn't seem to notice the bows, or anything else for that matter. Just the sight of blood dripping onto the floor. Bloody she had spilled.

Jiro exhales slowly as the residents of the gym bow. Catching Chen Ming's eye, he gives a bow of his own, deep, thankful, and respectful. Then he walks up to Alex.

Quietly, he said, "I realize it was he who first drew steel, but was that entirely necessary? You could have simply knocked him out." There was some bite in his voice, but the edge of it was blunted as he stretched his ki to aid her healing. "Merciful Spirit's Grasp." He wanted to rail, to scream, to berate her for such an attack, but he did not.

It was my brilliant idea to start searching for Dragoneye right away. She just got her powers last night. You saw her in the aftermath of the brawl with those vamps, she doesn't have a clue what she can do, and you knew it. Merciful Kamis, you should have talked her into taking half a day to experiment. This city has parks, we could have found a remote corner of one of those and sparred; help her learn her abilities in a more controlled way.

But no. No, you had to get searching, haring off after your cure. Baka. Sure, you rationalized it as helping her focus, helping her cope, but it was all self-righteous bullshit. Honorless, greedy fool. A man is dying because you couldn't stop thinking of yourself. This is why you'll never be worthy of Omi.

After healing Alex, he moved to the impaled man, one hand catching her wrist to pull her along. "Whatever offence he gave, we cannot just leave him like this. Get that bar out of him, and I will heal."

[OOC: array is in healing, first healing Alex, then, assuming she'll yank the bar out of his chest, the asshole. For him, I just want to stabalize his condition so he's not dying anymore, not wake him up, if possible.]
This message was last edited by the player at 06:37, Sun 06 Feb 2011.

Alex is in shock. She doesn't respond, just allows Jiro to drag her along. She yanks the bar out of the man's chest with ease, and stands there staring at it. The blood running down it's length and covering her hand.

The tears in her eyes threaten to fall, but stay there.

Both healings go as planned. Physically, Alex is once again fine and the man no longer seems to be in danger of dying. He should recover in time on his own.

Glancing around, Jiro spots a bottle of spray-cleaner and some paper towel. Normally, they'd be used to wipe sweat off of a bench, but for the moment, they'd work nicely to clean off the bar. He took it out of Alex's hands, set to work cleaning. It's no cleaning kit, but this is no sword, so it evens out. Quietly, he said, "Alex-san, I have done you a disservice. Once this is cleaned, I believe it would be in both our interests to practice some basics together. In my haste to see Dragoneye, and in my desire not to deride your skills as 'unearned,' I let myself forget they you do not know their limits. Some training to learn them can, perhaps, help us both to prevent such as this in the future."

Replacing the cleaned bar on its rack, nodded again to Chen. "Arigato, Chen-san, for defusing that situation. If you had not, I may not have been able to save that man."

He moved to one of the mats, gesturing for Alex to follow. This is not the best idea, but it is better than fleeing would be. I will deal with Zhang when I he arrives. For now, I must deal with Alex.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:00, Sun 06 Feb 2011.

As though hearing him for the first time, Alex looks at Jiro. She blinks once, and nods shortly. She turns and walks silently towards the locker room.

She emerges a few moments later, blood washed from her hands.

Chen Ming approaches Jiro. "In truth it would have been no great loss, for he is scum only barely tolerated. I doubt he will show his face again in this place." He glances at Alex as she steps out of sight and continues with words only for Jiro's ears. "I did it for her. She is no killer, and does not need that stain upon her soul. At least not this day. Someday, when she is ready, I would like to know her story."

Chen casts another glance around. "You have proven to be an honorable man, Jiro Koji, and so I will give you a warning. You are known to some here, at least by reputation. I do not think Zhang Peter will attempt to have you killed, but others will see your death as a way to curry favor with some of those with influence. Be on your guard at all times, most of all should you meet Dragoneye. I can not predict how he will act."

Jiro's smile was rueful. "A risk I knew I was taking. I know that I have enemies, and that they will talk. Still, you are an honorable man. Arigatou gozaimasu for your assistance.

Well. Shit. They might know me from Nakamura's smears on my name, but, well, I doubt they'd care. If this place is a Triad front company... oh merciful kamis, this could get very, very ugly.

Chen bows once more, then begins to get the mess cleaned up. He gestures to two of the men who had looked ready to attack. "Take him away." They rush to do as he says.

One young man has already grabbed a mop and starts cleaning the area without prompting. All in all, it looks like things of this nature happen often enough that it is routine. Certainly the regulars have all gone back to their own activities.

At this point Alex finishes washing up.

Alex walks up to where Jiro. She kicks off her flip-flops, raises an eyebrow at him, and briefly tilts her head towards the mat.

Jiro slid into a ready stance across from her and quietly said, "Your fighting skills are impressive, but they are your power's, not yours. I think we would do well to make them truly yours; and help you master them. Let us start with some basic drills."

So saying, he begins to instruct her in some basic martial arts and drills, low end stuff, but stuff he's fairly sure she'll be able to do. That it was basic would be obvious to any watchers, but their bluff had already been called. All he could do now as try and get his companion back into good mental shape for whatever was to come.

So try some honesty, baka.

Leaning in to correct her stance, Jiro quietly said, "I fear we could be in danger. Not due to your actions, Alex-san, but due to my own some time ago. If what Chen has told me is true, there are many here who are... associates of foes of mine. My appologies for placing us in danger, but I do not think retreating at this point would serve. We must see how things play out; I could be mistaken."

Alex nodded, and slid into her own ready stance. It's a bit different from Jiro's, but she looks just as comfortable as he.


It only takes moments for Jiro to realize that Alex is as far beyond the basics as he is. She gets each move first time, every time. The only places for correction would be strong differences in style, which is probably the case.

Alex gives Jiro a smile and shrugs. She makes a tossing motion over her shoulder, shakes her head, and continues with the training.

Not only is Alex far beyond the basics, but now that Jiro has a chance to really watch her, he sees that she is just as defensively minded as he is. On the attack she is actually his superior, at least if he is not channeling his Ki. Calling upon his Ki would even the odds there.

Style wise Alex relies more on brute force and grappling; while Jiro is more focused on trips, throws and mobility. Jiro has a notable edge in speed, while Alex is tremendously strong, far stronger then she looks and probably borderline superhuman.

To those watching, and make no mistake people are watching, it looks like a warm up or cool down exercise rather then any attempts to teach.

Jiro doesn't see any signs that Alex's skills are not fully her own, at least not in the current situation. Considering her earlier claims of not knowing how to fight before this happened, that is a bit unnerving.

Noting their audience, Jiro did his best to school his features; to keep his growing unease out of his expression. His mind was racing, and it had started, in its fashion, to start putting things together. First, I must remain as calm as possible and give the appearance of total calm. If this is a Triad den, so long as they think I am just some foolish, ignorant Japanese, I will have some small advantage. That can be leveraged.

Alex was fighting with admirable skill; with what seemed to his experienced eye to be a mixed style. He firmly approved - all martial arts were created by mortal, failable men, and thus none were perfect. Learning multiple styles would make one's own personal ability stronger, each style covering a weakness or reinforcing a strength of another. He was stepping up his game to keep her challenged.

Alex herself was... almost eerily calm, given the circumstances. She'd bounced back extremely well for someone who was new to combat. She'd taken his revelation about the possible dangers here utterly in stride. Something niggled at him, but he could not pin it down. She was on the edge of tears after she realized she'd impaled that guy, but she's been fairly good since. Given how bad she reacted to the vampires I'd expected more hysterics.

Wait. Backup. She hasn't said a word. She's steady, calm, perfectly collected. Like someone who is familiar with physical violence.

Oh. Oh, kuso.

She was granted her powers last night. She was also granted the knowledge to use them. What else got put in her head? He looked upon his companion with a feeling of dawning horror, fought to keep it from his features. Deal with it later. For now, concentrate. Zhang. Dragoneye. Surviving the night.

After recent events, no one else moves to trouble the pair. The practice passes enough time for the guide to return.

"All is in readiness. Come, the Second Test awaits."

He only smiles in response to any questions, saying "All will be made clear."

When the guide approaches, Alex slows and then stops. She bows to Jiro for a good bout, and bows to the guide. She follows without asking any questions.

Jiro also follows, doing his best to be impassive.

The Guide leads the pair into the back rooms, and then down a flight of stairs. At the base is a short hallway ending in a very heavy metal door that lacks any handles. The moment he sets foot on the floor, a view port in the door is slid open. A moment later, it is shut and the door swings open.

The guide continues on, leading you a windowed area overlooking a series of hidden arenas. Jiro immediately recognizes the theme of five of them. The first was Water, making use of an artificial waterfall to create a small stream that drained into a whirlpool at the opposite end. Next was a shiny steel plate set on a series of posts--the arena of Metal no doubt. The following arena looked to be the Fire arena, as it looked to be something like a pit of lava with several rocky islands, of various sizes and shapes, scattered throughout it. The Wood arena was a series of bridges set over a log-strewn depression, parts of the bridges were missing boards, or ended without being finished. The fifth arena, Earth, was a simple, slightly raised earthen area, worn smooth by countless feet of warriors past who had fought there.

The final arena is completely empty, filled with a darkness that the eye can not penetrate.


[OOC: Thanks to Tattoedman of the Atomic Think Tank for the arena's. All errors are mine, from moving his arenas into another environment.]

Jiro's eyes widened as he looked around the arenas. This will be interesting, he thought. I wonder, wich arena will we be fighting in? Or perhaps it will be all of them, one at a time.

He took a long moment, gathering his thoughts and stealing a glance at Alex - trying to gage her reaction. The water arena will be bad for me; I am simply not as good at manipulated my ki when cursed. Fire... likewise. The penalty for falling looks much too high. And I have no desire to kill. I cannot assume the same will be true of my foes. Or, given her recent bahavior, my allies.  Another look. The earth and metal arenas look quite straightforward, as does the wood arena.  The bridges would be interesting places to fight. I am not so sure of the darkness... but I am not entirely dependent on my eyes. I am ready for this challenge, I think, whatever it is.

Alex looks positively amazed. "Wow. Those are some hard core fighting pits. How do they have all these down here? Most of them look pretty straight forward, but that can't be what it looks like in that fire room. Molten rock isn't exactly easy or safe to keep around. Rock doesn't melt until close to seven hundred degrees and some doesn't until well over twelve hundred."

She leans up to the window and looks down. "No way you could use that as an arena. That close and you wouldn't be worried about heat exhaustion, you'd be worried about bursting into flames. So, watcha using down there?"

The guide looks surprised for the first time. "I could not tell you the nature of the arena's creation. It is a mystery known only to Dragoneye."

"Huh. Well, I guess if you have magic, that would help make an impossible arena. I guess this is where this 'second test' is going to be. So, we going to learn soon or are you going to keep trying to ramp up the antici... pation?"

Jiro couldn't help himself, he smirked and said, "Indeed, Alex. A wizard did it. Thus, it makes perfect sense." She's talking again. She's sane again. Thank you, merciful kami-sama.

The guide slides back into unreadability. "Dragoneye's responsibilities are many and his resources are, while great, not limitless. There is a threat to the lives and well being of the people of this district. A threat that is too great to entrust to his common servants, but not pressing enough to warrant calling upon his most skilled followers or intervening directly himself. It may be that you are the ones who might end this threat, for the good of all the people."

"Some would simply send you against this threat directly, but Dragoneye's wisdom and compassion does not allow him that option. If this task is beyond you, then he sends you to your needless deaths. So, to see if you are capable, he has decided to allow you the honor of facing the tests of service. The First Test you have passed, in earning Zhang Peter's recommendation."

"Now the Second Test lays before you. A test of your skill, your resilience, your adaptability, and of your will. You must pass through the six challenges. You each will choose a challenge to face alone, and upon succeeding you will rest a short time and face another then the third. Each challenge must be completed. If one of you should fail, then it falls to the other to complete the remainder."

"There are no rules of conduct within the challenge rooms. Simply succeed at all costs."

"Huh. And you're not going to tell us what the challenges are until we get started. I've read this one before. I guess one is as good as another to start with."

She glances at Jiro. "I love to swim, so why don't I take that one first? You grab one of the others and then we'll compare notes."

Jiro nodded decisively. Thank you, Alex, for taking that one off my hands. "Then I shall first face the darkness."

The guide nods and claps twice. Two men walk into view, and lead the warriors to their first challenge.

Alex walks down a set of stairs and into the "cave". A cold spray of water immediately hits her in the face. There is very little dry land in the cave, and the moment she is inside the entrance vanishes. The stream near the waterfall is shallow, perhaps a foot deep. It gets deeper towards the whirlpool at the other end, and the current gets stronger.

Jiro walks down his own set of stairs and enters a room utterly opaque to even his enhanced sight. All his senses seem to be reduced, at least they still seem to work. He can hear the slightest sound of movement ahead of him.

[OOC: The current as a chance to knock one down as one gets deeper, and the dark room causes a -4 to all notice checks, regardless of what senses it uses.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:04, Thu 10 Feb 2011.

Well. So much for my ability to see in the dark. At least I can still hear. Jiro closed his eyes, straining to hear any danger that might approach.

[OOC: Array is in Ki Focus, using Skill Mastery to take 10 on Notice as well as Stealth (Stealth at 21, Notice at 18 thanks to the penalty)]

Jiro heard the faint sound of a step, then another. Something is in the blackness, hunting him. Human sized, wearing shoes. It moved with some stealth, but not enough to hide from the Martial Artist.

He heard nothing but the movement. No sounds of breathing.

A wise man once said, 'In times when conflict is assured, do not be afraid to be the first to resort to violence.'

Taking a moment more to pin down the other figure's location via his hearing, Jiro shifted his ki, and lashed out. "Wrathful Kami's Shout!"

[OOC: Array is in Blast mode, aming for the figure via accurate hearing. 22:42, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 19 using 1d20+8. DC25 toughness check if that hits.

Alex steps out into the shallow part of the stream, alert for whatever may be the 'challenge' of the room.

[OOC: 18:20, Today: Alex rolled 22 using 1d20+7. Notice Check.
18:21, Today: Alex rolled 9 using 1d20+4. Init.  ]

Jiro hears the faint crackling of Ki as his bolt shoots out, yet he can see no sign of it. Still, the utter blackness does not stop him from hearing a grunt of pain or the sound of a body hitting the ground.

[OOC: 18:15, Today: Gamemaster rolled 17 using 1d20+9. Toughness Save.
]

Jiro felt himself smirk as he heard his target hit the floor. Gomen, stranger, but the challenge is to win at any cost. Once I have won, I will tend your wounds, but until then I will not fail in this challenge.

Focusing his ki once more, he loosed another bolt at the target, guided by the sound of its impact. "Wrathful Kami's Shout!"

[OOC: Another Wrathful Kami's Shout. 15:31, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 24 using 1d20+8. blasting again. DC 25 toughness check.]

Alex looks down and sees a small frog float past her leg. Then another, and another. Soon the room is filled with frogs hopping all over the place. The jump on her, get underfoot, and generally make a nuisance of themselves.

The aggravation is beginning to set in when a huge frog leaps out of a deepest part of the stream, right beside the whirlpool. It is at least five or six feet long, and looks at Alex for a moment.

It lashes out with it's tongue, cracking it past the girls ear, and then croaks loudly and menacingly.

[OOC: 18:46, Today: Gamemaster rolled 13 using 1d20+10. Init.
Using Fearsome Presence. Make a DC 15 will save.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:07, Fri 11 Feb 2011.

"Frogs... Really? How is this supposed to be scary? Did you think I was a stereotypical girl who needs some big bad boy to beat the bejevies out of it? Please..." Alex rolls her eyes and pulls her bowling ball out of her purse.

"CATCH!"

[OOC: 18:58, Today: Alex rolled 17 using 1d20+10. AOA 2, throw.
18:53, Today: Alex rolled 21 using 1d20+11. Will Save VS Fear.]

Jiro listens carefully and hears another grunt of pain, followed by the sound of his foe leaping into the air. Following the faint sounds of his foe's clothing rustling, Jiro is able to step aside from the blow at comes.

[OOC: 22:34, Today: Gamemaster rolled 23 using 1d20+8. Toughness Save.
22:38, Today: Gamemaster rolled 17 using 1d20+10. Attacking Jiro.  ]

BESIDE ME, thought Jiro, and sidestepped the incoming blow. He darted back a few steps, then danced back into range, doing his best to present a difficult target as he shifts his ki and attacks, the light normally shed by his ki-enhanced blows lost in the swirling black.

[OOC: not sure if an acrobatic bluff works in this darkness, but I'll take 10 on one anyway, for a 17. Array is in Ki Focus. 19:41, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 17 using 1d20+12. attacking Shadow, ki focus. DC 23 toughness check if it hits]

EDIT: forgot a penalty for bluffing as a move action :P
This message was last edited by the player at 03:48, Fri 11 Feb 2011.

The giant frog leaps to attack just as Alex throws causing the ball to fly straight through the place the frog had previously occupied, landing in the whirlpool. The amphibian monster lashes out with it's back leg as it flies past Alex's head, but she ducks underneath the blow.

It lands on the side of the wall, staring at the girl.

[OOC: 22:44, Today: Gamemaster rolled 11 using 1d20+6. Attacking Alex. ]

In the dark it is impossible to tell if the maneuver had fooled the foe, but Jiro does know that he failed to connect.

Sharp claws tear across Jiro's body, and strong arms try to restrain the fighter.

Even at this range, Jiro can hear no signs of anything beyond the faint rustling of clothing.


[OOC: 22:53, Today: Gamemaster rolled 24 using 1d20+10. Acrobatic Resist.
22:54, Today: Gamemaster rolled 26 using 1d20+10. Attacking Jiro.
DC 25 toughness save.  Using Improved Grab to try to get a hold on Jiro. If it wins, it will Pin Jiro.
22:55, Today: Gamemaster rolled 26 using 1d20+14. Grapple Check.  ]

"Huh. You're quick, and now I've lost my bowling ball... Such a shame, I liked it. If you're not going to come over here and play, I'll just have to IMPROVISE."

Alex snatches up one of the numberless frogs that have been annoying her, and throws it at the larger frog.

[OOC: 23:02, Today: Alex rolled 27 using 1d20+8. Attacking Frog. DC 23 damage. Yay for throwing mastery!]

"Kuso!" Jiro swore as the thing in the darkness raked him with claws. The blow stuns him, and he hits the ground beneath its weight.

[OOC: 20:01, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 17 using 1d20+10. toughness save.
Stunned, so my futile attempt to resist the grapple didn't matter
This message was last edited by the player at 04:15, Fri 11 Feb 2011.

The thrown frog is reduced to a pulp by the force of the impact. The giant frog is made of sterner stuff, and shrugs off the blow.

It makes another leaping attack on Alex, with rather more success then last time. The claws don't do much damage, but the slime on it's skin has a rather more notable effect.

[OOC: 23:07, Today: Gamemaster rolled 27 using 1d20+10. Toughness Save.
23:07, Today: Gamemaster rolled 22 using 1d20+10. Attacking Alex.

DC 17 Toughness save, DC 18 Fort Save VS a hallucinogenic skin toxin. Confuse/Drain Con Poison.]

Jiro head clears just in time for him to feel two sharp points pierce the skin of his neck. He starts to feel a bit lightheaded and drained.


[OOC: 23:15, Today: Gamemaster rolled 26 using 1d20+10. Attacking Jiro.
DC 18 Fort Save, Draining Con. ]

Vampire. Again. Kamis, that's... really annoying. With a shove, he dislodged the biting fangs, rolled to his feet.

He refocused his ki as he sized up the foe, as much as he could hear it, at least. "Didn't I punch you into the bay last night?" It sounded like the creature stood, and Jiro darted in, a ki-laden fist coming in for an uppercut. "Fist of the Oni!"
[OOC: first, the fort save. 20:20, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 23 using 1d20+9. fort save vrs vampire con drain.

Then, array in FotO, 20:24, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 17 using 1d20+10. Fist of the Oni on vampi boy. That won't hit, so Hero Point for a reroll.
20:24, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 28 using 1d20+10. HERO POINT reroll FotO. DC 25 toughness save.]

The blow is true, but the Vampire was already leaping back as it struck. Instead of turning it into a pancake, it simply added a bit of speed to it's flight.

The Vampire makes an unholy sound, a hungry, hissing noise that sends chills down the back. Jiro can tell it is coming from above ground level, perhaps ten feet up.

[OOC: 23:29, Today: Gamemaster rolled 27 using 1d20+7. Toughness Save.
23:31, Today: Gamemaster rolled 21 using 1d20+14. Startle Check.
Targets resist with Intimidate, Sense Motive, or Will ]

How did that not- bah, not important. It's not far enough away to be safe from me... He took a quick step forward and threw another ki-laden punch. "Fist of the Oni!"

[OOC: Skill Mastery to take 10 on Sense Motive - 22 for my save against his startle.

Fist of the Oni has Extended Reach, so laughing boy should be in range if I take a quick move towards the sound of hissing - punching upwards Shoryuken style. 20:38, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 24 using 1d20+10. Fist of the Oni. - DC25 toughness check.]

A focused Ki punch sends the Vampire flying into the air, until it hits something with a thud (presumably the ceiling). It promptly falls back to the ground and lands with another thud. Even with all the damage it presumably just took, Jiro can still make out the faint sounds of movement.

[OOC: 00:52, Today: Gamemaster rolled 19 using 1d20+7. Toughness Save.
00:53, Today: Gamemaster rolled 19 using 1d20+6. Toughness Save.
00:56, Today: Gamemaster rolled 16 using 1d20+5. Toughness Save.   ]

Alex winced from the cuts and the faint burning sensation from the slime, but she didn't let it stop her. She tried the frog toss thing again, but the slimy thing slide out of her fingers to soon.

[OOC: 01:00, Today: Alex rolled 26 using 1d20+12. Fort Save.
01:00, Today: Alex rolled 15 using 1d20+10. Toughness Save.
01:02, Today: Alex rolled 14 using 1d20+10. AOA 2, throw. ]

The Frog didn't seem very creative. It launched itself towards the girl, lashed out with a claw, then leapt back to the deeper part of the stream.

[OOC: 01:07, Today: Gamemaster rolled 25 using 1d20+10. Attacking Alex.
Another DC17 Toughness and DC18 Fort save.

Alex - Bruised 1]
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:13, Fri 11 Feb 2011.

"Fracking Frog!" Alex swore, and jumped after the thing. One of the smaller frogs was right under her foot as she landed, causing her to lose some balance and launch an incredibly clumsy attack.
[OOC: Leaping move over by the Frog.
01:14, Today: Alex rolled 25 using 1d20+9. Toughness Save.
01:14, Today: Alex rolled 30 using 1d20+12. Fort Save.
01:15, Today: Alex rolled 17 using 1d20+12. Unarmed attack. ]

The Frog didn't seem to comprehend her words, and launched another of it's leaping attacks. This time, Alex was ready for it and dodged out of the way.

Even as she did, Alex felt that the current was trying to drag her towards pool.

[OOC: 01:18, Today: Gamemaster rolled 17 using 1d20+10. Attacking Alex.
Miss. However, the current here is stronger. She needs to make a DC15 Strength check or be knocked down and pulled towards the whirlpool.}
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:21, Fri 11 Feb 2011.

The current was strong, but Alex was stronger. She kept her footing and jumped after the Frog. She landed flip-flop first, aiming for the thing's face.

[OOC: 01:21, Today: Alex rolled 16 using 1d20+6. Strength Check.
01:22, Today: Alex rolled 20 using 1d20+12. Unarmed attack.  ]

This time Alex is sure she hurt the Frog. It made a swipe at her and jumped to the very deepest parts of the room, right on the edge of the whirlpool. Alex could see that it's strong swimming legs were working hard to keep it from being pulled down.

Then the effects of the poison skin started to affect her.

[OOC: 01:24, Today: Gamemaster rolled 17 using 1d20+10. Toughness Save.
For hitting the frog, make a DC18 Fort save.
01:25, Today: Gamemaster rolled 17 using 1d20+10. Attacking Alex.  ]

The repeated doses of the poison finally seem to be taking hold. Alex stumbles a bit as things started to get strange.

[OOC: 01:27, Today: Alex rolled 16 using 1d20+12. Fort Save.
Ouch. If Alex can act this round, she will frog toss another frog at the Frog.]
This message was last edited by the player at 18:50, Fri 11 Feb 2011.

Hearing the vampire hit the floor - hard - next to him, Jiro grinned. Then he heard it still trying to move. And me without anything to use as a stake... Guess I'll have to do this the hard way and hope.  Moving to the target, Jiro lashed out once more. "Fist of the Oni!"

[OOC: 11:53, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 13 using 1d20+10. Another FotO attack. That's probably a miss, unless the stun knocks the vamps defense down more than I think it does, but worth trying.]

The Vampire snarled as it rolled out of the way of the blow. It lashed a foot out at Jiro's ankle, but the martial artist heard the scraping on the floor and jumped over the attack.
[OOC: 19:57, Today: Gamemaster rolled 19 using 1d20+10. Attacking Jiro. ]

"Kuso," muttered Jiro, as he lept over the Vampire's attack. "This is getting old, bloodsucker." Time to end this nonsense.

Shifting his ki, he lunged once more at the vampire.
[OOC: array in ki focus. All Out Attack for 5, Power Attack for 5.
17:03, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 28 using 1d20+12. Ki strike on vampi. DC 28 toughness save if I'm remembering the math right.]

The small frogs around Alex start growing larger and larger. Leering faces appear in their skin, and they start attacking her. In a panicked frenzy she lashes out at them. She smashing dozens of them into pulp, yet still they plague her.

From out of nowhere an even larger demon frog kicked her, threatening to send her doom amongst the frogs.

[OOC: 20:01, Today: Gamemaster rolled 19 using 1d20. Confuse Table.
20:03, Today: Gamemaster rolled 27 using 1d20+10. Attacking Alex.
DC 17 tougness save. DC 18 Fort Save. If you pass, you get a +1 on your save to recover from the first bout of poison. Don't forget you are down 2 con. ]

There is a sickening crack as Jiro's fist smashes the skull of the presumed Vampire in. The total lack of blood or other fluids from the blow does support the Vampire theory, and a hungry one at that.

[OOC: 20:07, Today: Gamemaster rolled 11 using 1d20+4. Toughness Save. Fail by more then 15.]

Stake or no, that's probably done the thing in for now. Decapitation usually works. Brushing bits if matter he was just as glad he couldn't see from his fist, Jiro stood. "That count as one down? If it does, I'm ready for the next one."

Let's see... wood looked interesting but not too nasty, but given how this darkness turned out it's probably worse than it looks. Metal... no, metal's a better fit for Alex - she's a lot stronger than I am. Earth likewise. Fire looked like it would make for a nasty challenge, but given Alex already took the challenge most likely to completely screw me over... "I'm ready for the Arena of Fire."

The pain of the blow shakes Alex out of her confused state. As the demon faces fade, she sets eyes on the drug frog. "I've had ENOUGH of YOU!" she yelled, swinging her purse with all her might.

[OOC: 20:16, Today: Alex rolled 19 using 1d20+8. Toughness Save.
20:13, Today: Alex rolled 31 using 1d20+11. Fort Save.
20:14, Today: Alex rolled 29 using 1d20+11. Fort Save.
20:15, Today: Alex rolled 32 using 1d20+12. Swinging Purse as Improvised Weapon.  TAKE THAT YOU FROG!!]

There is no response. Nor is there an obvious exit.

Muttering profanities, Jiro quickly made his way to a wall, then started circling the room clockwise. Should be able to find a door. Failing that, I suppose I can try to just make one, but that might not work... couldn't put the vampire through the roof, after all.

[OOC: searching the wall by feel, also listening for echoes caused by my profanity -gogo super hearing.]

Taking her purse in both hands, Alex swings it in a great arc ending in the Frogs position. The impact has two effects.

1 - It breaks the purse. It just wasn't meant for such abuse.
2 - It breaks the Frog. It just wasn't meant for such abuse.

The Frog's broken body smashes into the cave wall behind the whirlpool, then slides down into the pool. It is pulled down, the worlds largest frog flushed down the worlds largest toilet. With the loss of it's master, the other frogs hop away, most of them ending up down the whirlpool as well.

A few moments later, the door opens in the wall.

[OOC: 20:21, Today: Gamemaster rolled 10 using 1d20+9. Toughness Save.
Well, that worked. ]

Jiro searches for a few minutes, not finding anything. Just before he does something drastic, he hears something behind him. Sidestepping at the last moment, he hears a thud as the Vampire slams into the wall. Shaking his head, Jiro shouts "FIST OF THE ONI!".

His fist hits dead center in the things back, and crashes through to the other side. It's heart destroyed, the beast explodes into dust.

A moment later, he hears the sound of a door opening. It only takes a moment to find it and emerge back in the corridor. The man who lead him to the door turns and leads him back to the Guide.

When he arrives, he finds Alex already there. Her shirt is a bit torn, and she is toweling off, but seems in good health.

Shaking his head, Jiro wiped vampire bits from his fist - again- as he emerged blinking into the light. "Sorry I took so long. I'll take the fire pits for round two."

Standing next to Alex, he looked into said pits, mind working to guess what he'd find there. "I got another blasted vampire. What'd they throw at you?"

Alex looks at Jiro and smiles. "Glad to see you made it out okay! A Vampire huh? A lot of those wandering around this town are there?" She says with a roll of her eyes.

"I fought a massive frog with poison skin. I was tripping out for a bit there, but I managed to shake it off and flush it. Broke my purse, but they were kind enough to fish my bowling ball out of there and give it back to me. I think I'm going to get another one, I was throwing frogs at the Frog after I tossed it. Watcha think?"

She lightly tosses the ball to Jiro.

The ball has been dried off, but when Jiro catches it, he discovers that it was not perfectly water tight and leaks all over his hand.

It is very, very cold.

Jiro sighed, and tossed the ball back to Alex. "Ah well. I suppose something like this was inevitable." She turns to the Guide. "Any chance I could get some tea or hot water or something before the next challenge?"

Like he's gonna agree to that. Unless you give him a good reason... GAH! NO! BAD BRAIN, don't put those kind of ideas in my head... Jiro shuddered. I am not about to use myself as a sex object to try and get an advantage here. I'll just gut this out, if he won't provide some hot water.

...Even if he is handsome. Not worth it.

Alex slaps both hands over her mouth and her eyes go wide. "Sorry... Sorry... I I wasn't thinking. Oh no. uhh..."

The guide seems nonplussed by the sudden change. "Regrettably, I may offer you nothing during the Second Test."

He turns to face Alex. "You have completed two of the challenges. The fire challenge has been selected by your comrade. What challenge will you face next?"

"Uhhh... I was thinking about the fire myself but... I guess the one with all the bridges should be fine." She says, still distressed by her accident. She keeps looking at, then away from the girl standing where Jiro had been.

Then an idea strikes her. "Wait... fire. Hot. Fire is hot!"

She turns to face Jiro. "Fire is hot!" she says excitedly, as though this is a major revelation. "Here, take my towel! Never leave home without a towel!"

She hands the dripping mass to Jiro.

Jiro's smile is toothy. That might just work. "Thanks, this ought to come in handy."

She turns to the guide. "If you can't give me anything, you can't give me anything. I understand." She drapes the towel across her shoulders. "I'm ready to face this challenge." She glanced towards Alex. "As for the fire... playing to our strengths. I think I'm more agile than you, so I shouldn't fall into the magma-" I hope "-so I figure I'm our best bet for that one."

Taking a moment, she concentrated her ki into healing her injuries. "Merciful Spirit's Grasp."

As the doors open, She gives her companion one more glance. "See you on the other side."

[OOC: Even with the -2 rank penalty from being transformed, I get +12 to my recovery check with the healing array. Recovering my bruises.]
This message was last edited by the player at 03:02, Sat 12 Feb 2011.

Once again the pair are lead to their respective challenges.

The wood arena is a series of broken bridges over what looks to be a very, very long drop. Far longer then it looked from the outside. Where Alex is standing looks solid, but the rest of the bridges are... unreliable looking. There are growths of wood through the area, blocking some of the easier jumps.

The first thing to occur to Jiro is that it's hot in here. Sweat starts pouring down his face the moment he steps into the room, and the towel heats up enough to change him back very swiftly. The Fire Arena is 30 ft in diameter. The walls are smooth mostly and there are a couple large islands that can hold two people and several others smaller islands that can only fit one person.

Both arenas appear to be otherwise unoccupied at the moment.

[OOC: Every minute (10 rounds) you are going to need to make Fort saves to resist the heat. I will list the DC at the time.

http://i314.photobucket.com/al...cts/WoodArenaMap.jpg
DC 15 acrobatics check to leap from one to another, thanks to the poor footing and needing to avoid doing a George of the Jungle.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:24, Sat 12 Feb 2011.

Smirking, Jiro wipes the first beads of sweat from his brow. "That worked better than it had a right to," he says, giving the towel a tug. "Now, what's my challenge here..."

He bounds easily from the door to one of the platforms large enough for two, eyes pealed as he watches for any danger.

[OOC: Skill Mastery is a wonderful thing. Taking 10 on notice to watch for company, too.]

Alex walks out and looks around. "Alright, we have trees. Lots and lots of trees. All we need a bunch of rocks and this will feel like home. Hmmm... maybe a lake to, but that would just be a bonus."

"Now what?"

Jiro lands at the same moment that three heavy looking metal crates fall from the ceiling. Two of them land on the small islands, while the third misses and splashes down into the lava. It starts to slowly sink, and Jiro can hear screaming coming from inside.

The crate is just about within reach of an island.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:41, Sat 12 Feb 2011.

This is a very bad idea, Jiro thought as he bounded between islands, heading for the sinking crate. As he reached the closest island, he pulls the towel from where it sits across his neck and shoulders and grabs one end of it, spinning it over head, and whips it at the crate, trying to get it caught on one of the corners or edges.

[OOC: trying to snag the box. 19:49, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 29 using 1d20+10.   If this snags it, I'll try to pull it into reach, and from there onto the island.]

In a masterful display of skill, Jiro pulls the box right up to the edge of the island. From the screaming and the way it is rocking, there is somebody quite distressed in there. He will need to do something to get it out of the lava, the bottom of the box is starting to glow.

Jiro can also hear the sounds of beginning panic coming from the other two boxes.

Jiro tries to get a grip on the box and pull it up, but cannot do so - it's heavier than he first guessed.

Swearing, he starts to look the crate over for anything like a catch or handle.

[OOC: 19:57, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 15 using 1d20+3. Strength Check to pull the box up here.

Looking over the box as well.
20:00, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 27 using 1d20+12. notice check.]

The answer to Alex's question comes swiftly. Lifted by swiftly growing tree limbs, two wood cages rise from the depths. Inside are a pair of panicked looking people, one a man, the other a woman. They are wrapped tight by vines and are unable to open their mouths. The make muffled noises of distress.

The cages come to rest on two small platforms. There would only barely be enough room to stand on there with them.

[OOC: Alex is on F4. The two cages are on A7 and I11.]

Jiro can tell that the box has been sealed. He can see faint welds around the edges of the box that have been polished out. The metal box is rocking back and forth harder now, as though the person inside is throwing itself against the walls.

[OOC: That was round 3]
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:05, Sat 12 Feb 2011.

"Kuso!" he swears, seeing the welds. I'm running out of time to do this fancy. Hell with it.

Shifting his ki, he took aim at one of the welds on the top edge and lashed out with a knife-hand strike. "Fist of the Oni!"

[OOC: Fist of teh Oni aimed at the weld sealing the top of the box, not using the knockback. 20:08, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 30 using 1d20+10. trying to crack the boxtop off.]
This message was last edited by the player at 04:10, Sat 12 Feb 2011.

Ki. The vital force of the universe. With it, one could do amazing things. Leap vast distances, heal deadly wounds, inflict terrible harm.

Open boxes.

The side of the box just shatters under the force of the blow. Inside is a older, slightly overweight woman in tattered business casual clothing. Her shoes are smoking, and it looks like they will burn through in moments.

She doesn't wait for this to happen, throwing herself at her rescuer, not taking into the account he is standing on a very, very small island in a lava flow.

[OOC: Round 4. Make a DC 20 acrobatics check to catch her and avoid falling in the Lava. Yes, I know you can't fail. Roleplay it.]

Jiro grabs the woman even as she leaps, and gets a good hold on her. Doing his best to steady her, he steps back as much as he can, taking a steady stance, and helps her stand. "Steady there, ma'am. I have you. How'd you wind up in there?"

The words were more to calm her than anything else. He had a fairly good idea, and his blood boiled because of it. Damned Triad scum, endangering an innocent bystander just to 'test' me. They'll pay for this.

The need to get her to a larger island was obvious - this one was just plain too small. "Ma'am, I have to move us to one of the larger islands. Forgive my hands." So saying, he scoops her up, and starts back to one of the big spots. "My name is Jiro Koji," he began, trying to distract her once more, "What's yours?"

[OOC: 20:40, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 27 using 1d20+13. grappling the woman to carry her to relative safety]

"I'm Janet. The last thing I remember I was eating a late dinner at a little place in Chinatown, then I woke up in a metal box that was burning up. Thank you for getting me out of there." The woman appears to be wilting in the heat. "Where the hell are we?"

She pauses, looks around again, and starts gibbering. "I'm in hell, aren't I? This is hell! It has to be. I ate some bad fish and now my soul has been damned to eternity... OH GOD! WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME!" She falls to her knees as she yells the last.

Jiro spots some movement under the surface of the lava. There is something down there.
[OOC: Round 5]

"Please, Janet-san, calm yourself." Lava creatures. Goodie. Okay, I need to move fast. "I am not leaving you, but there are others who need my aid in here. One moment."

So saying, he bounds across the islands to another box, raises a ki-charged hand, and brings it down in a knife-hand strike to break the top off it.

[OOC: Array is in ki focus. 09:20, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 18 using 1d20+12. ki strike to open box. Just want to crack it open.

Janet doesn't acknowledge Jiro, she just keeps going in the same manner.

Landing on top of the box, Jiro smashes the lid open. Inside is a kid, about six or seven years old. "Help me Mister! I need to find my mommy!"

Any response Jiro has to this is interrupted by a snakelike humanoid rising out of the lava and throwing a bronze trident at him.

[OOC: 16:27, Today: Gamemaster rolled 29 using 1d20+10. Attacking Jiro.
DC 21 toughness save.]

The thing's trident struck him, but glanced off his skin. Jiro swore, lept to another island - one AWAY from the small, vulnerable child. "Stay down!"

Planting his feet, he took aim at the creature. The last box will have to wait a moment. His hands glowing with blue energy, he lashed out. "Wrathful Kami's Shout!"

[OOC: toughness check first. 17:21, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 14 using 1d20+10. toughness save.

17:21, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 23 using 1d20+10. toughness save HERO POINT REROLL.


17:24, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 26 using 1d20+8. blasting the salamander. DC 25 toughness check if that hits.

The blue bolt strikes the monster dead center and forces it under the lave. Jiro doesn't know if it is hurt or dead, but it isn't acting at the moment.

Wiping his brow, Jiro takes a deep breath. They heat was really oppressive here.

[OOC: Round 7
21:04, Today: Gamemaster rolled 19 using 1d20+6. Toughness Save. ]

"Alright. I knew I shouldn't have opened my big mouth." Alex muttered.

"HOLD ON PEOPLE! I'LL GET YOU OUT OF THERE IN A JIFFY! The girl called, and jumped towards the trapped woman. She landed with ease, and started tearing at the wood.

[OOC: 21:11, Today: Alex rolled 24 using 1d20+10. Acrobatic Jumping.

21:15, Today: Alex rolled 28 using 1d20+12. Unarmed attack. ]

These vines and branches are made of tough stuff. They resist Alex's attempts to break them.

The woman looks at Alex with wide eyes.

[OOC: 21:22, Today: Gamemaster rolled 23 using 1d20+6. Toughness Save. ]

Alex grits her teeth, and takes a firm grasp on the cage. Balanced precariously on the platform, she tears at the vines.

[OOC: Full round action to break the cage. Using the breaking objects rules. With my Super Strength, that gives my an effective Damage bonus of +7]

The vines bite into Alex's skin as she pulls the cage apart. The woman falls forward into Alex's arms, gasping for breath.

She sees that they had been constricting the woman, threatening to crush her. From the sounds the man is making, the same thing is happening over there.

Even as the salamander-like creature retreats into the magma, Jiro is in motion once again. "Stay still, little one, Janet-san. I must reach the last captive." He quickly leaps to the island with the last crate, ki shifting as he takes aim at a seam.

[OOC:Array is in ki focus - ki striking the box. 15:16, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 13 using 1d20+12. breakin box # 3.]

Jiro misjudges his strike. He manages to take the corner off the edge of the box, but he also knocks it off balance. It slides and rolls down towards the lava, threatening to fall in, hole first. To avoid falling into the lava himself, Jiro is force to hop down onto the surface of the island.

The screaming as the hole nears the lava is very, very loud. He's going to need to act fast if he is going to prevent the person inside from getting turned to ash.

[OOC: Round 8]

Swearing, Jiro eschewed carefully aiming for a weld in favor of simply brute-forcing the box open, bringing one hand down in a hammerblow, with the intent of reaching quickly into a hopefully sundered box to yank out the occupant.

[OOC: 19:34, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 23 using 1d20+12. break attempt, AoA 5, Power Attack 5. If that pops the box, I'll grab the occupant ASAP and heal them from any 'splash' damage or flying splinters or whatnot as soon as I can.]

Jiro smashes the box into splinters, and the man inside scrambles out, just seconds away from falling in. Even so, he is feet and legs are burned.

The cooling Ki causes those wounds to fade.

"Woah, man. That was awesome. Where the hell are we?"

[OOC: Round 9 and Round 10
At the end of your next action, make a Fort Save. I'll tell you the effects after.]

"We are in a place of testing. I do not know why the three of you were brougth here, but I swear on my honor that I will get you out." He grimaced at the heat. For him, thus far, it was little more than draining. For the others, perhaps especially the child, it would likely be far worse.

He quickly surveyed the three captives, then his eyes turned again to search the magma, looking for any further signs of the creature that had attacked earlier.

[OOC: 19:38, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 26 using 1d20+9. Fortitude save.

Doing my notice thing on the lava, looking for the salamander. Also taking 10 on sense motive on the captives, trying to get a feel for them and how much danger they're in.]

"What the hell man? Testing? You mean some wackjob sent me to hell to TEST me... wait a second... You're the dude taking this test aren't you! You prick. Why can't you supers leave people alone!" the man says, sounding rather angry.

All three captives seem scared out of their wits.

A minute passes and Jiro spots some movement in the lava, but nothing attacks. At least not yet.

[OOC: Another Fort Save]

"I had no wish to get others involved in this. Believe me, I will be having words with the one who brought you here." A pause as he bounded towards one of the walls, finding a spot where he could reach the wall while still on an island.

Taking a breath he tried to spot anything that might mark a seam or weak point, then drew back his fist. "FIST OF THE ONI!"


[OOC: first up, the fort vrs hear: 22:06, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 23 using 1d20+9. Fort save.

Next, trying to punch a hole through the wall. Power attacking for 5, array is in Fist of the Oni. 22:10, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 15 using 1d20+5. FotO, power attack for 5, DC 30.

The power of Jiro's blow is undeniable, and the walls crack slightly. To Jiro's dismay, they swiftly repair themselves. An eyeblink after the blow is struck, the walls are as they were before.

The boy has curled up on the ground and is crying. The man is standing on his island, looking at the lava, jumping at every slight pop or burble. The woman is still on her knees begging for forgiveness.

"Kuso."

Lip twisted into a snarl, Jiro shook his head and nimbly made his way to the platform nearest the center of the room. He wracked his brains - there had to be some way out of this - but until he could figure out what that way was, he'd have to wait. He'd fall back on watching for that salamander.

[OOC: Array is in blast, watching for the salamander. I'll blast it the second it pops up; hopefully before it can take a shot at one of the people.]

Alex pulls the woman the rest of the way out of the cage, then jumps over to one of the more stable looking bridges with her. "Wait here. I need to get the other guy out."

[OOC: 20:34, Today: Alex rolled 27 using 1d20+10. Acrobatic Jumping.
Jumping to F9
20:37, Today: Alex rolled 29 using 1d20+10. Jumping to the man.
Next round a full round action to tear him out of there.]

Jiro waits until he spots signs of a monster breaking the surface of the lava, and unleashes a perfect shot. His Ki strikes true, and the beast's broken body sinks below the surface.

His triumph is short lived, as three more of the snake like things surface. Two of them cast bronze tridents at him, which he avoids easily. The other trident is thrown at the man, and it strikes in full in the chest. He falls to the ground, blood flowing freely.

[OOC: Round 30
20:40, Today: Gamemaster, on behalf of Jiro Koji, rolled 25 using 1d20+8. Attack roll.
20:41, Today: Gamemaster rolled 20 using 1d20+8. Toughness Save.
20:42, Today: Gamemaster rolled 26 using 1d20+8. Attacking Man.
20:42, Today: Gamemaster rolled 15 using 1d20+8. Attacking Jiro.
20:42, Today: Gamemaster rolled 9 using 1d20+8. Attacking Jiro.
20:44, Today: Gamemaster rolled 7 using 1d20+2. Toughness Save.

The three visible monsters are minions, and you can take ten on them.
Make a third fort Save.
]

Still gasping for breath, the woman only nods to Alex.

With exceptional grace, Alex leaps from bridge to bridge. She lands and rips the vines apart. The man falls into her arms, blood seeping from where the vines had been the tightest.

She hears a faint buzzing sound coming from somewhere below.

Swearing viciously, Jiro's mind races. I swear, I think they're laughing at me. "You will not win so easily!"

For a split second, he gathered his ki, eyes closed, fixing the position of all three salamanders, and the three innocents, with his acute hearing. Those who watch see an aura of brilliant blue light gather around him.

Then power blasts forth in a wave, flowing around the innocents and spreading towards the monsters. "WRATHFUL KAMI'S ROARING SHOUT!"

[OOC:First, getting the bookkeeping out of the way. 18:01, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 20 using 1d20+9. Fort save again vrs heat.

Now the attack. Power Stunting off of Blast. Taking off Affects Insubstantial, reducing range to touch, adding Time so it's a full round action rather than a standard action, adding Blast and Selective so it avoids the wounded.

DC 20 reflex save; DC 25/20 toughness check based on if they save or not.

Jiro is now fatigued.]
This message was last edited by the player at 02:23, Sun 20 Feb 2011.

"Oh drek... I don't like the sound of that." Alex muttered. She took a deep breath and tried to carry the man over to where she first entered. The added weight of the man threw off her balance and the graceful attempt suddenly looked less so.
[OOC: 21:12, Today: Alex rolled 13 using 1d20+10. Acrobatic Jumping.
I really don't like the looks of that...]

In an astounding display of Ki mastery, Jiro creates an explosion that crashes over the Salamanders like a tsunami. One starts to dodge below the lava, but to no avail.

Jiro watches all three torn apart by his power. This mean he wasn't look at the exact moment the other man stopped breathing entirely.

[[Round 31
OOC: 21:27, Today: Gamemaster rolled 15,25,14 using 1d20+7,1d20+7,1d20+7. Reflex Save.
21:28, Today: Gamemaster rolled 12,14,17 using 1d20+8,1d20+8,1d20+8. Toughness Save.

21:30, Today: Gamemaster rolled 7 using 1d20+2. Fort Save. ]]

Jiro looked, saw the injured man still, and swore. Damned fool! You should have known something like this would happen. Moving quickly he jumped to the man's island and checked for a pulse.

[OOC: 18:42, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 16 using 1d20+6. Medicine check - pulse or other vitals. If he's not already dead, hopefully keep him alive long enough to throw ki healing at him next round. Array is in healing, but sadly that's a full round action.].

The man is just holding onto the faintest glimmers of life. Only seconds until he passes from this world into the next.

"Merciful Spirit's Grasp!"

[OOC: Healing the guy. If needed, I'll repeat next round as well. Once that's done, I'll get back to looking for a way out.]
This message was last edited by the player at 05:22, Sun 20 Feb 2011.

Jiro's focused ki channels the very stuff of life into the man's body. Wounds slowly close, and he resumes breathing. The man is still in bad shape, but should survive.

Assuming nothing else tries to kill him, or a heat stroke takes him.

The monsters stay out of sight for some time, as the heat continues to drain the energy from Jiro's body. The others are on the verge of passing out.

Once or twice one of the snake monsters emerge from the lava to attack, but Jiro swiftly dispatches them. Finally, something large stirs in depths. The only question is, was Jiro looking in the right direction at the time?

[Round 50 Two more Fort saves, then a notice check, and an init roll]

Jiro wracked his brains to try and figure out a way out of this damned cauldron. Preferably before the heat, or monsters, killed him or the innocents. It was certainly sucking the strength out of him.

[OOC: 21:00, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 13 using 1d20+9. Fort save 2. 21:00, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 23 using 1d20+9. fort save 1
21:04, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 14 using 1d20+12. Notice check
21:05, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 17 using 1d20+6. Initiative

The dice bot doesn't much like me tonight.]

Rising from the depths comes a giant version of the Salamanders that have been plaguing Jiro. It raises it's arm and fires a bolt of flame from it's giant trident. Jiro ducks under the blast, but only barely. The heat is really getting to him.


[OOC: Take a level of fatigue from the failed fort save.
20:01, Today: Gamemaster rolled 4 using 1d20+3. Monster Init.
20:48, Today: Gamemaster rolled 14 using 1d20+10.  ]

Oh. Oh my, he thought, ducking under the blast of fire. "Kuso!" he shouted, adrenaline starting to surge in his veins, and channeled his ki. The monster was too far from any of the islands for him to reach, so he would have to rely on other means. Dancing quickly between stones, he tried to get to a part of the room with no innocents behind him.

"Wrathful Kami's Shout!"

[OOC: burning a hero point to de-fatigue myself, array is in blast, firing away. Acrobatic Bluff to feint as I fire on the run; DC 17.

17:58, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 10 using 1d20+8. Wrathful Kami's Shout on the big guy. On the very off chance that that hits, DC 25 toughness check]

The thing chortled loudly. "SO FAST TO FLEE, MORTAL. YOU SHOULD SURRENDER NOW, WHILE I AM STILL FEELING MERCIFUL."

He punctuated the last word with another fire blast, closing in for the kill.

[OOC: 01:14, Today: Gamemaster rolled 29 using 1d20+10. Attacking Jiro.
Be glad it doesn't have improved crit. DC 25 toughness save.
It's within melee range now. Assuming you don't get knocked back into the lava...]

Calling on his ki, Jiro willed the fire to flow around him, teeth gritted. That was too close. But he's in reach now. He moved in, dancing between islands, and growled, "I will not die to an overgrown worm like you." Then he dodged and struck.

[23:12, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 17 using 1d20+10. toughness check.
23:13, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 15 using 1d20+10. HERO POINT REROLL toughness check.
 - by the hero point rules, that 5 is modified to a 15, for 25 and a pass.
Acrobatic Bluff to feint, DC16 now, array is in ki strike.
23:19, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 18 using 1d20+12. ki striking the big guy.]

The blow is true, at the beast recoils in pain. At first it looks like it may have crippled the monster, but it shakes it off in moments.

"FOOLISH MORTAL! YOUR PAIN WILL BE LEGENDARY!"

It turns and points at the unconscious man laying on the ground. "YOU HAVE WORKED SO HARD TO PROTECT THESE VERMIN, PERHAPS I SHALL START YOUR LESSON THERE!"

A massive gout of flame streaks towards the man...

Impacting about 10 feet past him, in a rather embarrassing miss.

[OOC:
13:27, Today: Gamemaster rolled 10 using 1d20+8. Acrobatic Resist.
13:28, Today: Gamemaster rolled 12 using 1d20+10. Toughness Save.
13:29, Today: Gamemaster rolled 11 using 1d20+10. Toughness Save Fiat. = 21
13:30, Today: Gamemaster rolled 11 using 1d20+10. Attacking Man.
Monster - Bruised 1
Jiro earns a hero point for the fiat ]

"They are not a part of this, monster! Concern yourself with me!" Merciful kamis, please keep your heads down, people. Need to get his attention back on me...

He darted in for another strike, holding nothing back.

[OOC: 10:41, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 24 using 1d20+12. Jiro PAUNCH! AoA 5 Power Attack 5. DC 28 toughness save, I believe.]

Ki is good for more then opening boxes. It is quite useful for plastering fire spirits against the walls. The monster slides down the walls and splashes into the lava. It floats there unmoving.

[OOC 13:56, Today: Gamemaster rolled 13 using 1d20+9. Toughness Save.
KO'd ]

For a long moment, Jiro stood, fist still at extension, letting his heartrate calm. Finally, he found his voice. "Are you ladies okay?"\

As he waits for their response, he returns to the unconscious man, checking his vitals once more.

[OOC: 11:07, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 23 using 1d20+6. Medicine check - pulse or other vitals.]

As Jiro bends down to check on the woman, who has by now also passed out, something surprising happens.

She vanishes. Looking around, both of the other prisoners have vanished as well and the door has reappeared.

Alex lands on the very edge of the platform, but it breaks under the impact. She falls and at the last moment Alex snags a branch with her free hand. Her other hand barely holding onto her passenger, dangling below her. The branch creaks under the weight of the pair.

Meanwhile the buzzing is getting louder. Alex glances down and sees flickers of movement through the tangle of branches.

<OOC: Roll Init!>

Jiro paused. What the... He gave another look around the room, as if making sure they hadn't just all hidden behind a rock, or something. Then he made his way to the door, bounding into the holding room.

He looked to the guide, struggling for a moment with his emotions. Then, "Where they real?" He paid very, very close attention to the response.

[OOC: taking 10 on sense motive on whatever he says in response, total 22]

"Frack me..." Alex swore.

She calls upon all her strength to swing the man up onto the platform, safely away from the edge.

[OOC: 14:25, Today: Alex rolled 20 using 1d20+4. Init.
14:25, Today: Alex rolled 26 using 1d20+6. Strength Check.  ]

Alex makes it look easy, and the man lands with a thump. That burden dealt with, Alex has no trouble making her way back up onto the platform.

A giant insect thing has risen into view. It looks like a cross between a man and a housefly. It is surrounded by a massive swarm of more common flies, and they start biting and harassing the girl.

The Guide is as unreadable as a stone. "That question you must answer for yourself. Now, do you face the metal or the earth?"

"Really? A fly? *sigh* What did I do with that frog?"

Alex shook her head, and readied herself for the attack she was sure was about to come.

OOC: Ready attack on the thing, though it's going to miss I'm sure.
14:40, Today: Alex rolled 15 using 1d20+12. Unarmed attack.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:43, Sat 05 Mar 2011.

For a long moment, Jiro's emotions roiled beneath the surface. Fury, caution, and frustration warred, before he finally schooled his features into neutrality. "I will think on that answer. For now, I will face the arena of earth."

I've taken on the two that seemed most dangerous, most likely to screw Alex and I over. It'll have to be enough. Alex can take the hard one this time.

Asuming I haven't just completely guessed wrong. Which would be of a piece with the luck I've had today.

The attack did come, as Alex predicted. It swooped towards her, nimbly avoiding her attack. Still the effort did mean that Alex had no trouble avoiding it's attempt to bite her.

She notices that there is liquid dripping from the thing's mouth. Liquid that hisses and bubbles when it drips to the trees.

[OOC: 14:43, Today: Gamemaster rolled 17 using 1d20+10. Attacking Alex. 

"FRACK!" Alex leapt back a bit from the fly as she realized it slobbered acid. "Right, going to put you down now!"

Alas, it was not to be.

[OOC: 14:45, Today: Alex rolled 18 using 1d20+12. Unarmed attack. ]

The fly does indeed dodge the blow. Instead of pressing it's attack, it darts towards the woman that Alex had rescued. She screams loudly as the thing grabs her and picks her up.

The Guide waves his hand towards the door for the Challenge of Earth.

He walks into the earth arena, a raised circle over a shallow pit. A bridge leads from the door to the circle.

A young Chinese woman walks out of a door on the other side of the room. The bridge she walks on and the door she entered from vanishes the moment she is in the circle, just as Jiro's bridge and door do.

The woman is dressed in a simple Gi. She's about 5'7" and moves with the practiced grace of a martial artist. She looks at Jiro for a moment in silence, then bows and falls into a ready position.

OOC: Init

"OH NO YOU DON'T YOU DAMN DIRTY BUG!"

Alex throws herself across the gap, and launches a furious attack

[OOC: 15:01, Today: Alex rolled 17 using 1d20+10. Acrobatic Jumping.
15:02, Today: Alex rolled 22 using 1d20+17. AOA 5, unarmed.
15:03, Today: Alex rolled 21 using 1d20+19. Grapple Check.
Damage if he fails the check. ]

Jiro returned her bow, slid into a ready stance of his own. In Chinese he said, "Greetings, miss. Before we start, I would like to say I hold no rancor against you. I hope this can be a friendly contest."

[OOC: 12:02, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 16 using 1d20+6. Initiative.]

Alex's blows seem to slid off the Fly's hard carapace. She lands unceremoniously on her butt as the fly drops it's prey on the ground and turns it's attention to this persistent aggravation. Alex narrowly rolls out of the way of the getting a 'bad kiss'

[OOC - 15:11, Today: Gamemaster rolled 29 using 1d20+10. Toughness Save.
15:10, Today: Gamemaster rolled 31 using 1d20+11. Grapple Check.
15:12, Today: Gamemaster rolled 13 using 1d20+10. Attacking Alex.  ]
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:15, Sat 05 Mar 2011.

"Ah, but I hold some rancor towards you, Jiro Koji." She says, her voice filled with anger. She explodes into movement, crossing the battlefield in an instant. "IRON PALM STRIKE!"

The palm strike of her hand passes within inches of Jiro's face.

[OOC: 15:19, Today: Gamemaster rolled 26 using 1d20+8. Init.
15:20, Today: Gamemaster rolled 15 using 1d20+10. Attacking Jiro. ]

Kuso! She's good. He darted back, then dodged in on the offensive, the blue light of his ki flickering around his body. "Who are you, stranger, and what have I done to you? I would like to know."

[OOC: Acrobatic Bluff to feint at 17; array is in Ki Strike.
15:59, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 29 using 1d20+12. attacking the young lady. DC 23 toughness save, and I hope like hell that's enough to hit, cause if it's not...]

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME?" she shouts, as Jiro leaps over her. "YOU TOOK.. Unhh" She is cut off by Jiro's blow.

She whirls to face him, unfazed by the blow. "CATAPULTING FIST!"

[OOC: 19:04, Today: Gamemaster rolled 28 using 1d20+8. Toughness Save.
19:10, Today: Gamemaster rolled 28 using 1d20+10. Catapulting Fist!.
19:14, Today: Gamemaster rolled 26 using 1d20+10. Trip Check.
Resist with best of Dex/Str. Trip does knockback, so if you fail you'll go flying.

Earn a hero point for the complication "Enemy"]
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:42, Sun 06 Mar 2011.

Jiro went flying at her blow, breath exploding out of him as he flew across the chamber. Landing hard, he flipped to his feet and danced towards his enemy, ki shifting. "An impressive technique; I commend you." Weaving his way towards her, he attacked. "Fist of the Oni!"

[OOC: 16:23, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 17 using 1d20+6. resisting trip/dex. Skill mastery acrobatics to pop up, moving in to attack. Acrobatic Bluff again to feint, 16 this time thanks to penalties.

Array is in Fist of the Oni, but I am NOT using the knockback. 16:45, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 26 using 1d20+10. Fist of the Oni - NO knockback. DC 25 toughness save if that hits.]

The woman could see that Jiro's attack could not be dodged. Instead, she confronted the strike head on, blocking his fist with her open palm. "IRON PALM BLOCK!" There is an explosion of light as her yellow energy warred with Jiro's blue. At first it seems that Jiro would win the struggle, but she grits her teeth and calls upon hidden depths of Ki to disperse the Fist of the Oni. "You're powers are WEAK. I am disappointed. Killing you will be easier then I had hoped!"

There is a menace in her words, a promise of pain that will not be denied.

[OOC:19:51, Today: Gamemaster rolled 13 using 1d20+10. Toughness Save. Yeah, not going to let you end that fight so quickly.
 19:52, Today: Gamemaster rolled 30 using 1d20+10. Toughness Save Fiat.
Make a DC 16 will save VS Fear or become shaken. If the save fails by 5 or more, you flee. If the save fails by 10 or more, Jiro panics, dropping any held items and fleeing as quickly as possible
There is another hero point for the fiat.]

Alex doesn't have anything witty to say at this point. She just punches. Hard.

[OOC: 20:07, Today: Alex rolled 19 using 1d20+12. Unarmed attack.
20:09, Today: Alex rolled 34 using 1d20+19. Grapple Check.  ]

Alex gets a good hold on the fly and wrenches on it's arm. It recoils in pain, and launches another ineffective attack at the girl.

[OOC: 20:10, Today: Gamemaster rolled 22 using 1d20+10. Toughness Save.
20:10, Today: Gamemaster rolled 14 using 1d20+13. Grapple Check.
20:12, Today: Gamemaster rolled 20 using 1d20+10. Toughness Save.
20:12, Today: Gamemaster rolled 15 using 1d20+10. Attacking Alex.  ]