[Fate RP] Romance of the Three Kingdoms: CE184

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Re: [Fate RP] Romance of the Three Kingdoms: CE184

Postby Kivutar » Sat Jun 16, 2018 4:11 am

"I don't know if two days is enough time," says Kun dubiously.

"It'll have to be," sighs Dewang. "I'll need all of your help, of course."

"Xufeng can figure it out," says He eagerly. "How much time each?"

"Er, a few minutes?" says Lin, and Jun snorts. "I could have calculated that myself."

"A few minutes, then," says Dewang. "At least enough to speak to them, ask a question or two. I'll need you to write things down. He, breathe."

"Breathe?"

"Your light's turning blue."

He sits up straight and begins gulping air. The pale flame in the centre of his hand flickers.

"Jingyi?" Dewang looks at her pleadingly. She moves closer to He, examines his flame, and begins to help him still it. Her own flame is faintly green, and perfectly leaf-shaped.

Dewang turns back to Kun, holding out his scroll. "Copy the list of names somewhere larger, with space for notes. We'll start as early as possible tomorrow- Jun, careful!"

"Sorry!" Jun curses, claps a hand over his sputtering flame, pulls it off even faster, and curses more loudly.

Dewang grabs his hand and holds it still. "It isn't a real flame. It isn't really hot. See?" He turns Jun's hand over. The palm is completely unburned.

Jun nods and swallows. The flame rises up again, more calmly this time, and Dewang smiles.

Kun's flame is white and almost still, but it seems to dance in his eyes. "You're first with recording," Dewang tells him. "We'll start as soon as it's light enough. The rest of you - please try to keep some kind of order. There isn't much time."




The next morning dawns grey as Dewang steels himself to face all the children. Jun and Jingyi have gotten the first ones into surprisingly good order.

"Bitong and my sister have a system," says Kun proudly. "He threatens, she coaxes. Look at them."

They certainly appear to be a well-practiced team, but Dewang doesn't have much time to observe. He motions for the first of the children, a small, shy boy.

"What is your name?" he asks the boy, then curses himself for his formal tone. How does one talk to children? Let alone these ones? Politely, he decides, and that is the best he can do.

"Don't be shy," he adds, as the boy still seems tongue-tied.

"Li Yu," whispers the boy.

"Li Yu? Let's see what you've learned..."
  • 2

Then the LORD said to me, "Go again, love a woman who is loved by her husband, yet an adulteress, even as the LORD loves the sons of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes."

Hosea 3:1
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Re: [Fate RP] Romance of the Three Kingdoms: CE184

Postby CarrieVS » Sat Jun 16, 2018 7:07 pm

Baozi obliges. He does not of course have any intention of actually making contact, though he has little doubt that his intention would not matter in any case. He has seen Wenchang fight and knows that for all his bulk the warrior is anything but slow, and a master of the blade. His preferred weapon is the much heavier dadao, of course, but he holds the more slender jian with the confidence of one thoroughly expert in its use.

Sure enough, an instant later Wenchang parries his immediate attack almost effortlessly, and counters with a cut that would have laid Baozi’s belly open, had it not been skillfully drawn up just short of brushing his clothing.(1)

They exchange several more cuts and thrusts, feints and parries, without either getting a clear opportunity. Even without his usual weight of steel, Wenchang’s sheer strength lets him easily turn aside any of his slighter opponent’s blows that he can interpose his own weapon in front of - which is almost all of them, while making his own strokes almost impossible to parry. Baozi rarely tries to: his style has always been rather to evade than to block, and where he can to turn the evasion into a swift and sudden attack.

But he is outclassed in this match, and he cannot avoid Wenchang’s next attack. So he steps towards it.

It is directed at his thigh, and in a real fight might not inflict a lethal wound. Though even in a practice bout it would be a dangerous move were he facing a lesser opponent. Baozi himself would have had to break off the attack to avoid the possibility of wounding his opponent. But Wenchang, though his eyes widen in shock, reverses the stroke and matches Baozi’s movement, keeping his blade just short of contact.

It would be a crippling blow if it wasn’t mortal, but Wenchang would also be dead, as Baozi would have trapped his blade for just long enough to prevent him countering the upward thrust now aimed at his own throat.(2)

They stand motionless for several moments, each at the other’s mercy. Then Wenchang is the first to laugh, and lower his weapon. “I hadn’t expected such boldness from you.”

Baozi smiles, and takes a step back to assume his guard once more. Following the stalemate, the match goes on for some time. First Baozi finds himself staring at Wenchang’s swordpoint, a mere inch from his right eye(3), and then after a seemingly unending back and forth series of exchanges, he draws on every ounce of speed and agility he can to suddenly reverse direction. Wenchang, outflanked before he can react, freezes motionless as he feels the tip of a jian barely brush his back(4). Baozi could possibly sever his spine from this position, or with more certainty, run him through the kidney. Wenchang looks back at him, “That’s more like it.”

When they continue, Baozi does so with renewed confidence. Perhaps, a little too much confidence. Or perhaps Wenchang has been holding something back until now. However it is, Baozi finds the warrior’s sword laid close against both his own jian and his neck, in such a fashion that a flick of Wenchang’s iron wrist would send his blade spinning from his hand, and if he wished, a heartbeat later spill his life’s blood.(5)

Baozi nods - very carefully, acknowledging defeat, and Wenchang steps back and sheaths his sword. “As I thought. You have the ability to excel, but seem content with your practice as it is. Strange.” He looks up and pauses. “Forgive me for taking you along in the search for Liang Ju. That's twice now I've tried to get you in trouble”

“Oh!” Baozi is momentarily taken aback. “But you never meant to…” Don’t be a fool, of course he doesn’t mean it literally. “I mean, of course I forgive you. I mean, I would if I had blamed you.” He stops, aware that he is beginning to babble, and smiles at Wenchang, “It is good to have someone to practice with. And a swordsman of such skill too. Thank you.”

Spoiler: show
Round 1
Baozi: ([0] [+] [+] [-]) + 4 = 5
Wenchang: ([+] [0] [0] [0]) + 6 = 7
Result: Wenchang succeeds (1:0)

Round 2
Baozi: ([-] [0] [0] [+]) + 4 = 4
Wenchang: ([-] [0] [0] [-]) + 6 = 4
Result: Tie

Round 3
Baozi: ([+] [0] [-] [0]) + 4 = 4
Wenchang: ([0] [0] [0] [-]) + 6 = 5
Result: Wenchang succeeds (2:0)

Round 4
Baozi: ([0] [0] [+] [+]) + 4 = 6
Wenchang: ([+] [-] [0] [-]) + 6 = 5
Result: Baozi succeeds /o/ o/ o (2:1)

Round 5
Baozi: ([+] [-] [-] [0]) + 4 = 3
Wenchang: ([+] [-] [+] [-]) + 6 = 6
Result: Wenchang succeeds with style (4:1)


Joint production with Lads. Give thumbs where due.
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Re: [Fate RP] Romance of the Three Kingdoms: CE184

Postby Scarik » Tue Jun 19, 2018 2:00 am

The days come and go and the army moves out again.

Liu Bei was not overselling the difficulty of the march. They go twelve hours a day for five days until they arrive sore, tired and hungry at Governor Ding's forward command camp.

Once there they have little time to rest while the battalion is integrated into the army and the next day, with a visit from Jian Yong, they are sent back west to escort and catalogue additional supplies for the remainder of the week.
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Re: [Fate RP] Romance of the Three Kingdoms: CE184

Postby Ladki96 » Wed Jun 20, 2018 10:23 pm

Wenchang does as Colonel Liu orders and protects the baggage train for the five days

[img]https://marcellusdrilling.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/bean-counter.gif[/ img]
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Re: [Fate RP] Romance of the Three Kingdoms: CE184

Postby Kivutar » Thu Jun 21, 2018 12:59 am

Dewang is grateful for the fatigue of the next little while. Junyou's escape is still weighing on his mind.

Everything is quiet, which he is glad of, not that he feared anything would happen with Wenchang around.




He frowns at the scrap of paper. "Xufeng?"

"Mhm?"

"Remember the lady that Master Du sent to the other lady?"

Lin starts up. "Zaitian... what are you doing?"

"Nothing!" protests He. He holds up a scrap of paper. "It's just, the other lady's maid saw me in the street or something. She gave me a message from her mistress."

"You didn't read it, did you?" says Lin. He hesitates a moment, and Lin sighs. "Zaitian, you have to stop doing things like that! Look what happened last time."

"How could I help it? It's open, like this!" He holds up the paper. There are two words on it: 'She fled.' "And nothing happened last time!"

"Only because I stopped it," says Lin. "Why do you think I dragged you here? Made you take this job?"

He pauses. "I still think you're exaggerating," he says.

Lin shakes his head. "Zaitian... you're so naive..."




Kun gets back late, but Jingyi is still awake.

"Did you find him?"

"Yes," says Kun. He shakes his head grimly. Jingyi gives him a bowl of rice. "What did he say?"

"He said: No, as far as he knows they aren't chasing after us, good luck, and get out of his house."

Jingyi slumps. "So we can't expect any help from him, then."

"I never expected any. Second cousin? As if that means anything, to us..."




Jun stares at the letter, grits his teeth, and rips it up.

"She found me here? How in all the hells did she find me here?"
  • 2

Then the LORD said to me, "Go again, love a woman who is loved by her husband, yet an adulteress, even as the LORD loves the sons of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes."

Hosea 3:1
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Re: [Fate RP] Romance of the Three Kingdoms: CE184

Postby Scarik » Thu Jun 21, 2018 1:06 am

After five exhausting days of meeting more than a thousand ox-drawn carts and tallying the contents the order comes to take 200 cavalry and return to Ye where they will take command of a battalion of fresh soldiers and another month's provisions.

All the while more soldiers continue to arrive from the northeast from Youzhou though they do not bring enough food and fodder along with them to reliably maintain the siege. Hence why more must come from Ye.

The journey west is uninteresting and quick, with only horsemen they make it in 3 days, but once they get there the sheer quantity that has been given into their care stands before them.
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Re: [Fate RP] Romance of the Three Kingdoms: CE184

Postby CarrieVS » Sat Jun 23, 2018 12:41 am

It's one thing to know the number of tons that a month's food for sixty thousand soldiers represents, but to actually see it, to say nothing of the number of ox-carts required to move it, is rather another. Baozi calculates in his head, and decides that, as they will be on good roads all the way so that the carts can drive two abreast, the column will stretch about eight li once fully under way. Nine, allowing for the soldiers too.

And they are a whole other problem. Though all but untrained, they should at least know how to march. And hopefully have some vague idea how to use the weapons they've been issued with, if it should come to fighting. But there are two thousand of them and no officers at all. They will not be able to spare the experienced fighters of Wenchang's company to help organise them - the cavalry will be badly needed as scouts or as their only reliable fighting unit, in the event that the supply train is attacked.

"We will have to try and find enough capable men amongst them to lead files and organise them at camp," he suggests to his friends. "I think we could divide them into eight, and spread them down the line of wagons, and then there would only be a little more than one li between the companies." It would not be wise to spread such raw recruits any more thinly.

The three of them agree after a little discussion that the cavalry would be best used divided into two halves, one hundred of them at any one time acting as outriders and advance scouts, and the rest as a single unit in the centre of the column, so that if need be they can reach any part of it where trouble breaks out, to support the weaker infantry.

"At least we are not marching through woods this time." In clear weather on the good road across the plains, that should be enough to let them deal with any trouble, if they are not extremely unlucky.
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Re: [Fate RP] Romance of the Three Kingdoms: CE184

Postby Ladki96 » Sat Jun 23, 2018 10:11 pm

"We will have to try and find enough capable men amongst them to lead files and organise them at camp," he suggests to his friends.


"From this lot?... Well, if I spot any man holding his spear with the sharp end pointed away from him I will inform you," Wenchang says doubtfully, but leaves to inspect the troops.

"Boxiao, our strategist wishes to find gems among these stones." He tells him what they discussed. "Find Jing Luo, Yi Wen, and Guang Jou. Tell them they're being temporarily promoted. Ah, and Deng Yun too."

The adjutant grins, "He is not going to like that, sir."

"I know. He can stand to learn more about being in charge."

Wenchang walks around, looking closely at the men preparing to march.

Roll: Awareness
Wenchang: ([+] [0] [-] [0]) + 4 = 4


He notices some fifty troops who look decent enough and orders them to follow him to the tents.

Baozi sits quietly, his eyes and ears noting everything, missing nothing as Wenchang talks to each soldier in more detail, and briefly lets the captain know how suitable each candidate is.

Roll: Examine
Baozi the Best: ([0] [+] [0] [-]) + 4 = 4


After the last one has left, Wenchang turns to his friend. "Twenty isn't bad."

"The sergeants are talented, but lack feeling," says Baozi.

"Dewang has a silver tongue, now he can put it to good use. I'll go find him." :P
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Last edited by Ladki96 on Wed Jan 29, 2020 7:46 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: [Fate RP] Romance of the Three Kingdoms: CE184

Postby Kivutar » Sat Jun 23, 2018 10:25 pm

"You're much better at shouting," grumbles Dewang, but shouting is not what these newly promoted men need.

Instead, he talks about the importance of this journey and the safety of the provisions. At least, at first he does. He soon moves on to how the treacherous rebels must be crushed, and if he isn't really thinking of the Yellow Scarves - well, the soldiers don't know that.

He's momentarily surprised when they cheer.

Roll: Rapport
Dewang: 2 + 5 = 7
  • 2

Then the LORD said to me, "Go again, love a woman who is loved by her husband, yet an adulteress, even as the LORD loves the sons of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes."

Hosea 3:1
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Re: [Fate RP] Romance of the Three Kingdoms: CE184

Postby Scarik » Sun Jun 24, 2018 5:56 am

Once again they head across the Wei Plains by the Jizhou High Road east toward Ping Yuan. For the first two days it is clear skies and gently rolling pastures flanked with fields of wheat and millet with plots growing root vegetables closer to the villages. As the enter the wetter areas they pass by the earthen dams and reservoirs for cultivating rice in paddies cut into the hills to the north and dug out of the river marshes to the south.

The finest rice in the Empire grows there and the weather begins to show why. Wet winds from the east collide with the Qin Mountains to create an ever present mist each night and each morning. But Du Zhiteng evokes the spirits of the sky to lift the veil as they pass by and to hold back the rains that could slow their progress.

On the fifth morning out the weather ahead of them clears and the Autumn rains come down furiously in the west after days of holding back.

As before the journey has been uneventful and tiring and it seems it will end much as all the others when around noon, still 50 li from their destination, the heavens to the east darken and crackle with blue flames. An unseasonable wind springs up from the sea and with it comes sheets of rain that beat like drums and and thunder that shakes the ground.

The sky swirls and like the hands of angry gods it twists and pulls at the earth tearing up roofs, toppling down walls and filling in ditches.
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Re: [Fate RP] Romance of the Three Kingdoms: CE184

Postby Kivutar » Tue Jun 26, 2018 12:09 am

Dewang knows instantly that this is no ordinary storm. Ending it is far beyond his power.

But he can at least protect the caravan. He closes his eyes for a moment. The storm spirits give in a little, and soon enough the wind dies down. Only a gentle rain falls around them.

Beyond the little island he has created, the storm rages just as furiously.
  • 2

Then the LORD said to me, "Go again, love a woman who is loved by her husband, yet an adulteress, even as the LORD loves the sons of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes."

Hosea 3:1
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Re: [Fate RP] Romance of the Three Kingdoms: CE184

Postby Scarik » Wed Jun 27, 2018 12:39 am

Dewang's magic holds the storm at arm's length. It is enough to prevent the furious winds from hurling them about but only just. They still arrive at their destination soaked and covered in grasses and earth thrown up by the typhoon.

That's when they see a tornado half a li away strike a dozen catapults and scatter them as if they were dry leaves.

Baozi and Wenchang brave the storm to report their arrival where the Governor is in the town with the only stone buildings. Dewang does his best to keep the full power of the storm away from them as they go until he succumbs to exhaustion and relents.

In the morning the storm ceases as suddenly as it had begun. Everything made of wood, untreated earth and straw has been flattened. The driving rain has even worn huge cracks in the pack earthworks and left them dangerously weak along their entire length and with dozens of gaping breaches as well.
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Re: [Fate RP] Romance of the Three Kingdoms: CE184

Postby Kivutar » Thu Jun 28, 2018 12:01 am

Dewang wakes the next morning in an odd position, and as he turns his head, the sun shines in his face. The surface under him is wooden. He's in one of the carts - how did he get here?

He pulls himself into a sitting position, the memories of the previous night coming back in a rush. He is dizzy and lightheaded, but he does not think he has suffered any harm, for now.

The sorcerer responsible for the storm is much stronger than he is. Infinitely more. This must be the Zhang Jue that everyone whispers of. Against another attack, he will be almost helpless.

Well, he will be helpless. There might be other measure the army could take, though. If they are prepared in time for the attack...

The morning is warm, although he feels a little chilly in his wet clothes. He makes his way, a little unsteadily, to find Baozi. There will be an attack, anyone can tell that - but his friend has an uncanny ability to predict when and where attacks will happen.
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Then the LORD said to me, "Go again, love a woman who is loved by her husband, yet an adulteress, even as the LORD loves the sons of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes."

Hosea 3:1
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Re: [Fate RP] Romance of the Three Kingdoms: CE184

Postby CarrieVS » Thu Jun 28, 2018 12:52 am

They make their report - or at least Wenchang does, while Baozi stands next to him. Then go to get a little sleep.

Come morning, Baozi is somewhat at a loss for what to do. There will be an attack once the enemy is satisfied with the damage to the fortifications, so this is no time for cataloguing stores or the like. But in every battle until now, his place was with Colonel Liu, to advise him. But he no longer trusts Baozi, or wants his advice.

The storm stops.

Dewang comes into view, still looking wet, and exhausted from his efforts to shield the caravan.

"When? Soon enough, before we have a chance to make repairs. But I should think they'll want firmer footing for the assault. Probably the ground will have started to dry out by mid-morning, and it won't be long after that."
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Last edited by CarrieVS on Thu Jun 28, 2018 1:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: [Fate RP] Romance of the Three Kingdoms: CE184

Postby Kivutar » Thu Jun 28, 2018 12:57 am

"That isn't much time," says Dewang, worried. "When the attack comes, the magic will be as strong as before, or stronger. I won't be able to do much, but there is another way to counter it."

He pauses. "We'll need a few things. Dirty sorts of things...." He lists a number of examples. "It shouldn't be too difficult. But we should tell Colonel Liu at once."
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Then the LORD said to me, "Go again, love a woman who is loved by her husband, yet an adulteress, even as the LORD loves the sons of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes."

Hosea 3:1
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