WHO'S WHO IN HUNG LIAN "The high must depend upon the low for its foundation, whereas the low seres as its own foundation" - Lao Tzu Just about everyone is just a farmer. The few exceptions, however, are the most interesting inhabitants. WANG LENG Farmer / Everyman Hero - He who contacted the Taoist diviner Li Hsien and then the P.C.s in an effort to save the village. ST 11 DX 12 IQ 12 HT 12 Speed: 6. Dodge: 6. Parry (Hand): 8. Thrust: 1d-1. Swing 1d+1. Punch: 1d-2. ADVANTAGES: Luck, Strong Will +3. DISADVANTAGES: Sense of Duty (Hung Lian), Sense of Duty (Holy Men), Poor. SKILLS: Agronomy -15, Area Knowledge (Around Hung Lian) -13, Brawling - 13, First Aid -13, Fishing -13, Hiking -12, Running -12. QUIRKS: Breathless manner of speaking, Actually enjoys farming nomatter how backbreaking the work. QUOTES: "Peace and a plot of land! What more does a man need?" "Because the holy man said it would be so!" Wang Leng is noted for his hospitality to traveling monks and holy men. It was the attention that he paid to the proclamations of a nameless hermit that caused the villagers to dig the well from which the Five Brothers emerged in the first place. He feels very guilty about this. It didn't make him very popular in the village either! On the other hand, Wang Leng is also the village's link to the Taoist priest Li Hsien. When Hsien passes through Hung Lian on his frequent and mysterious travels, it is always in Wang Leng's humble dwelling that he resides. The visits last for two days every year and have gone on for the past ten years. Li Hsien's most recent stay took place after the Five Brothers of Thunder emerged from the village well. Wang Leng begged Li for help. The priest spent a night in thought and meditation, and upon the breaking of dawn, performed strange magical rituals. He told Wang to seek out people matching the P.C.s descriptions in the manner described above. Only they would be able to save Hung Lian. The other villagers scoffed and derided the old man's advice - especially in light of the disaster that followed from the last time that they listened to a holy man! If Hsien's magic was so powerful, then why did he not rid them of the Five Brothers of Thunder himself? However, Wang Leng did as he was told, and here the P.C.s are. The villagers are more polite to Wang Leng now - they are desperate for any chance of deliverance. Wang Leng will help the characters in any way that he can, but has no idea how they are to go about saving the village. If the P.C.s are clearly lost, you could have Wang Leng suggest that they seek out the Five Brothers of Thunder down river and defeat them in battle. This, of course, won't work. If the P.C.s still have no ideas, you could have Wang Leng suggest that they consult with Li Hsien. This would be helpful. Leng knows that the priest lives in The Cave of the Dancing Tiger on Nightingale Mountain. However, he has no idea where such geographical features may be found. CHEUNG CH'I Headman and Magistrate for Life Middle aged with a long, floppy mustache. He is resplendent in his green magisterial robes while the impressive length of his fingernails attests to his unfamiliarity with manual labour. His wrinkled, lustrous black ciao dog "Mr Wu" trots or sits by his side at all times. ST 9 DX 10 IQ 11 HT 9 Speed: 4.75. Dodge: 4. Parry (Hand): 6. Parry (Jiann): 4. Punch: 1d-3. Jiann: 1d-1 imp. ADVANTAGES: Literacy (Southwestern Mandarin), Status 2, Wealth (Comfortable). DISADVANTAGES: Odious Personal Habit (10 pt Arrogance), Stubborn. SKILLS: Administration -13, Bard -12, Broadsword -9, Detect Lies -11, Languages (Southern Mandarin) - native, Languages (All Other Mandarin) - 11, Literature -11, Savoir-Faire -14, Writing (Bell and Pot) -10, Writing (Chu Chien) - 10. QUIRKS: Strokes his long floppy mustache, Never answers a question straight, Loves his dog more than any human. QUOTES: "Don't you know how to act in the presence of a magistrate? Perhaps you need a lesson in manners!" "Without the law, we are nothing but animals of the forest". Cheung Ch'i has a jiann (broadsword) but will only fight if the village is under direct attack and will let no other wield it while he lives. Cheung Ch'i is perfectly aware that magistracies are supposed to be for only three years and never for life. However, he has agreed to hold the post beyond the three year term until the local Shih, Feng Fa, has "overcome the temporary administrative difficulties that obstruct the timely appointing of new officials". That was twenty-five years ago. The truth is that Feng Fa dislikes Cheung Ch'i and so has permanently exiled him to a backwater. Cheung Ch'i, however, quite likes the quiet village and is perfectly happy to stay. Indeed, he is under the impression that he is being rewarded for exemplary service. His most prized possession is his ciao dog "Mr Wu", a present from the Shih. He lavishes affection on the animal, a luxury not afforded to his human family. Cheung Ch'i is irritating, but not malicious. He does nothing good or bad for Hung Lian or its residents, his sole duty being to see that he is treated with appropriate respect. He doesn't know what to do about the village's present plight, and thus, prefers to pretend that things aren't so bad as they seem. Since he has no ideas of his own, he will pour scorn and derision on anyone else's ideas, including those of the P.C.s. On the other hand, unless the characters do anything illegal, he won't attempt to stop them from doing what they want. He will merely tell them that what they want is stupid. Knocking down the Temple of the Pig King is illegal if the P.C.s don't have permission, and they will have to work to convince Cheung Ch'i to give them such permission. Flattery might work, and making Ch'i think that it is his idea to destroy the temple is most effective of all. Three of the local farmers are Cheung Ch'i's constables. Being a constable in Hung Lian normally means nothing whatsoever, as nothing interesting enough to be illegal ever goes on there. If the P.C.s do something interesting enough to be illegal, they will find that the constables are Hu Wei: ST 12 DX 10 IQ 9 HT 11. Sports a big friendly grin. Speed 5.25, Dodge 5, Parry (Hand) 8, Parry (Staff) 4. Brawling -12, Language (Southern Mandarin) -Native, Staff -7. If forced to use his staff, he will all-out attack at +4 for an effective skill of 11. His punch does 1d-2 and his staff 2d. Quirks: Smiles amiably almost all the time, Never wears straw in the rain. Quote: "Have you eaten rice today?". Pa Yueh: ST 11 DX 12 IQ 10 HT 12. Frowning seriously. Speed 6, Dodge 6, Parry (Hand) 8, Parry (Staff) 6. Brawling -13, Language (Southern Mandarin) -Native, Staff -9. His punch does 1d-2 and his staff 1d+3. Quirks: Boastful, Has a scar on right cheek. Quote: "I feel that it is only fair to warn you - my staff technique has never been defeated". Ch'eng Tiao: ST 12 DX 10 IQ 11 HT 12. Has a worried look. Speed 5.5, Dodge 5, Parry (Hand) 8, Parry (Staff) 4. Brawling -12, Language (Southern Mandarin) -Native, Staff -7. If forced to use his staff, he will all-out attack at +4 for an effective skill of 11. His punch does 1d-2 and his staff 2d. Quirks: Nervous, Very superstitious. Quote: "You are very strange! Are you a demon?" If forced to arm themselves, the constables have staffs at home. As can be seen above, however, they haven't exactly devoted themselves to intensive training in the Staff skill. Too bad. FAN SHU Farmer / Blacksmith Burly, stripped to the waist and covered in soot. ST: 13 DX: 11 IQ: 11 HT: 12 Speed: 5.75. Dodge: 5. Parry (Hand): 8. Thrust: 1d. Swing: 2d-1. Punch: 1d-1. ADVANTAGES: High Pain Threshold, Toughness 1. DISADVANTAGES: Ugly, Poor. SKILLS: Agronomy -10, Blacksmith -15, Brawling -13, Carpentry -13, Cooperage -13, Language (Southern Mandarin) -Native, Leatherworking -14, Woodworking -12. QUIRKS: Enjoys his work, Sings loudly and tunelessly as he hammers away. QUOTES: "I wish that I could help, but blacksmithing is all that I know" "Do you know any good working songs, stranger?" Powerful but good-natured, Fan Shu will be eager to help out the characters in any way that he can. He will be reticent at first to be used as muscle, for despite his size, he is not trained for war. However, if he can be convinced that it is for the good of the village, he will let the P.C.s lead him to his death. Fan Shu does not want to admit that his work in erecting the Temple of the Pig King may have harmed the village. He can be convinced, however. CH'ENG CH'IAN Doctor / Apothecary Short old man with a wispy white beard. ST: 9 DX: 11 IQ: 13 HT: 12 Speed: 5.75. Dodge: 5. Parry (Hand): 7. Thrust: 1d-2. Swing: 1d-1. Punch: 1d-3. ADVANTAGES: Wealth (Comfortable). DISADVANTAGES: Absent Minded, Age (60). SKILLS: Ch'i Treatment -14, Diagnosis -14, Distilling -15, First Aid - 16, Herbalist -14, Pharmacy -13, Surgery -13, Yin/Yang Healing -14. QUIRKS: Proud of being sixty - likes to slip it into every conversation, Squeamish about blood(!). QUOTES: "Good iron is not used for nails, and good men are not used for soldiers" "A true hero knows how to duck punches" It is to Ch'eng Ch'ian that the characters will probably need to go to if they are wounded. Since they are trying to help the village, he will aid them free of charge. TAN KENG Farmer / Gambler Thin and dressed in scraps. ST: 9 DX: 11 IQ: 11 HT: 9 Speed: 5. Dodge: 5. Parry (Hand): 8. Thrust: 1d-2. Swing: 1d-1. Punch: 1d-3. ADVANTAGES: Charisma +2. DISADVANTAGES: Compulsive Gambling, Impulsive, Dead Broke. SKILLS: Agronomy -14, Boating -13, Brawling -13, Carousing -14, Fishing -14, Gambling -11, Streetwise -10. QUIRKS: Passionate about Liu Po - carries his "lucky" Liu Po sticks with him at all times, Always willing to try his luck because his luck has been so bad for so long that it has to change. QUOTES: "What is it that you would like to know?" "Think so? Want to bet on it?" Tan Keng is not particularly able, but he does know everyone in the village and will speak openly about them to the P.C.s. He can easily be convinced to join in any undertaking just for the hell of it. T'UNG PAILANTI Hunter Scruffy and dressed in skins. Wears his hair long and loose. ST: 11 DX: 12 IQ: 12 HT: 12 Speed: 6. Dodge: 6. Parry (Hand): 9. Parry (Knife): 5. Thrust: 1d-1. Swing: 1d+1. Punch: 1d-2. Knife: 1d-1 imp. Bow: 1d+1 imp. ADVANTAGES: Absolute Direction, Alertness +2, Animal Empathy. DISADVANTAGES: Reputation -2 (Poacher and Weirdo), Code of Honour: Never Breaks his Word. SKILLS: Area Knowledge (Around Hung Lian) -15, Brawling -14, Bow -14, Climbing -15, Knife -14, Naturalist -14, Orienteering -14, Stealth -14, Survival (Forest) -15, Tracking -15, Traps -14. QUIRKS: Individualist on surface but traditionalist at heart, Perfectly happy with his own company. QUOTES: "When a man's word is worth nothing, the man is worth nothing" "The wilderness has its own rules" T'ung Pailanti usually carries a large knife and a longbow. T'ung will be invaluable when the P.C.s need to go beyond the confines of the village and into the wilds. The other villagers will warn them against him because he is so strange - what with being a non-farmer and all. However, if the P.C.s plan to save Hung Lian, then they had better make friends with T'ung Pailanti. He will not volunteer, but if asked politely to help, will do his utmost to protect the village from disaster. He has never heard of Nightingale Mountain and fails to see how, if such a mountain existed thereabouts, it could have managed to hide from him in his travels. However, if Shan Tsai, the oldest man in the village, can be convinced to give him directions, Pailanti will be willing and able to guide the party there. WEN TOU Netmaker / Fisherman Slouches around and has a permanent 5 o'clock shadow. Wears clothes that are worn and shabby even for a poor fisherman. ST: 10 DX: 11 IQ: 11 HT: 11 Speed: 5.5. Dodge: 5. Parry (Hand): 7. Thrust: 1d-2. Swing: 1d. Punch: 1d-3. Knife: 1d imp. ADVANTAGES: Luck. DISADVANTAGES: Lazy, Poor. SKILLS: Agronomy -12, Boating -13, Carpentry -14, Fishing -15, Netmaking -15, Shipbuilding -9, Swimming -13. QUIRKS: Lecherous, Talks to fish (whether they are alive or not). QUOTES: "Why wrestle crops from the soil when fish will come right to you? - won't you my little darling?" "Yes! First thing tomorrow!". Wen Tou carries a large knife, used for gutting fish. If the P.C.s wish to travel by river, then Wen Tou and his leaky boat are the only available way. They will find him lying on his back in said boat on the river Shou with his fishing rod between his feet. If they ever see his farm, they will find it to be an overgrown wreck. Wen Tou is the only one in the village who has noticed that the red river lotuses after which Hung Lian ("Red Lotus") is named have been struck by some kind of pestilence. Most villagers are too concerned with the crop failures to worry too much about this symbol of the village's downfall. SHAN TSAI Oldest Man in Village Old, bent and very frail-looking. ST: 7 DX: 8 IQ: 13 HT: 11 Speed: 4.75. Dodge: 4. Parry (Hand): 8. Thrust: 1d-3. Swing: 1d-3. Punch: 1d-3. Kick: 1d-1. ADVANTAGES: Full Eidetic Memory. DISADVANTAGES: Age - 95, Lame in one leg, Poor. SKILLS: Agronomy -15, Area Knowledge (Around Hung Lian) -16, Ch'i Healing -13, First Aid -15, Gambling -12, Herbalism -14, Fishing -14, History (Local) -15, Karate -13, Naturalist -12. QUIRKS: Inability to see any wrong in his wife, Self-effacing. QUOTES: "Why do you strangers insist on disturbing a poor old peasant man?". "What man was ever so lucky in a wife? I do not deserve such fortune". Shan Tsai has invaluable information. He is the only person in Hung Lian old enough to recall the founding of the village and the preliminary trek to the area. This means that, firstly, he is the only person who recalls the location of Nightingale Mountain. He is too old to guide the P.C.s there himself, but can give directions to T'ung Pailanti. Secondly, he alone can recall the day that Hung Lian's founder, An Keng, made the area capable of supporting a village by magical measures. However, Shan Tsai does not approve of strangers. The P.C.s will need to do one of two things in order for him to agree to speak to them. Firstly, they can impress Shan Tsai with their honourable natures. Unless their reputation goes before them, they will have to decide how to do this themselves. Secondly, they can convince Shan Tsai's wife Shan Chin to intercede with him on their behalf. Shan Tsai was just five years old when the village of Hung Lian was founded, but he remembers it as if it were yesterday. In those lawless times, the village of his birth, Fan Chih Yin, had been mercilessly harried by bandits that the Shih was either unwilling or unable to stop. Pushed to desperation by the prospect of starvation, the elders had decided that there was nothing for it but to poison their own well and have the village commit suicide. However, the night before this desperate act was to be carried out, the headman, An Keng, had a dream. He was appeared to by Yu Nu, The Jade Maiden herself - servant of Mu Kung, the Duke of Wood. Yu Nu told him to not to let the village kill itself. Rather, all those who had survived the bandit outrages were to leave the town at dawn and travel east, taking no provisions but an axe and a vase of red dye. Eventually, if they did not waver from their path they would come to a mountain, known as Nightingale Mountain. Then they were to turn north and walk until they would come to a quiet bend of the peaceful Shou River where red lotuses grew wild along the banks. There, they would see a sheep standing amidst a copse of seven willow trees. The sheep was to be sacrificed to Mu Kung and the trees cut down, dyed red, and erected as poles about the site of the new village. They were to call the village Hung Lian, "Red Lotus". The refugees from Fan Chih Yin did as they were told and as soon as the last of the poles had been erected, wheat and beans miraculously sprang fully grown from the earth all about, while wild geese flew in from the banks of the Shou and presented themselves as livestock. Thus, ninety years ago, had Hung Lian been founded - not that any of the respectless lazy young folks of today believed a word of it or could even be bothered listening to the story grumble mumble grumble etc. The P.C.s are quite likely to notice that there are not now seven red poles stationed around Hung Lian. Ah! Thereby hangs a tale that everyone in the village does know, and which anyone can tell the P.C.s if they are asked. Refer to "The Temple and the Well" below. SHAN CHIN Wife of oldest man in village and village whore. Naturally attractive but also doing her best to look as good as she can. Makes her own cheap white makeup and wears wooden bangles. ST: 9 DX: 12 IQ: 13 HT: 10 Speed: 5.5. Dodge: 5. Parry (Hand): 8. Thrust: 1d-2. Swing: 1d-1. Punch: 1d-2. Kick: 1d. ADVANTAGES: Attractive, Voice. DISADVANTAGES: Greed, Social Stigma (Woman), Reputation -3 (Lady of the Night). SKILLS: Acting -15, Agronomy -14, Erotic Art -12, Fishing -13, Gambling -15, Herbalism -13, Karate -12, Singing -15, Stealth -14. QUIRKS: Wants to hear stories about the outside world, Hates her work but will do anything for money. QUOTES: "Tell me about your home, far, far away". "What's it to me?". The easiest way to obtain an audience with Shan Tsai is through gaining the help of his wife, Shan Chin. Alas, since the village looks down on her, she is quite happy to see it wiped out. As things are, she only remains in Hung Lian because of emotional attachment to Shan Tsai. If the P.C.s want her to intercede with him for them, they will have to give her something. It could be treasure, it could be public praise, it could be a particularly amusing practical joke played on the rest of the village. The players will just have to think of something and then get her to accept it as payment. TIGER-CLAW PANG Retired Mercenary Well groomed man in early middle age. Proud of the battle-scar on his right forearm, he usually has his sleeves rolled up so that it is visible. ST: 12 DX: 12 IQ: 10 HT: 12 Speed: 6. Unarmed: Move: 6. Dodge: 6. Parry (Hand): 8. Armed: Move: 4. Dodge: 10. Parry (Dau): 12. Block: 15. DR 3. Thrust: 1d-1. Swing: 1d+2. Punch: 1d-2. Chiang: 1d+1 imp or 1d+2 imp if used 2 handed. Crossbow: 1d+3 imp. Dau: 2d cut. ADVANTAGES: Combat Reflexes, Wealth (Comfortable). DISADVANTAGES: Gullibility. SKILLS: Agronomy -13, Brawling -13, Broadsword -14, Carousing -12, Crossbow -13, Hiking -13, Musical Instrument (Flute) -13, Savoir-Faire (Military), Shield -14, Spear -13, Tactics -12. QUIRKS: Lacks personal initiative, Reminisces about his past military adventures. QUOTES: "I may not know much about wizardry, but I do still have a strong right arm". "I don't know, what do you think?" Tiger-Claw Pang is the only person in Hung Lian who is seriously armed. He owns a dau (broadsword), a chiang (spear), a crossbow, a large shield, and a banded leather breastplate. He may be convinced to lend the chiang to the P.C.s. What part does he play in the story? If the P.C.s are short on muscle (and you can never have too much of that), Tiger-Claw Pang can help. Although not a combat monster, he is a capable and experienced veteran who has no wish to see his new home wiped from the face of the Middle Kingdom. If Hung Lian must be defended, then there are an extra eighty grown active men who will fight. Give them ST 10, DX 10, IQ 10, HT 10, Speed and Move 5 and let them use hoes as polearms with a skill of 5. They will all out attack at +4 for an effective skill of 9. Damage is 1d+3 cr.