Tales of the Jade Mantis/The Jade Mantis

The Jade Mantis or 'Jade Táng Láng is the ship of the crew from the Tales of the Jade Mantis, a play by post game in the Firefly universe on the rpg.net forums.

• wiki

Description

• Jade Mantis

• The 'Jade Táng Láng' is an ornate Euphoria class Space Junk with beautiful sleek lines, spacious holds and sumptuous hardwood staterooms . An illegal sensor suite is complemented by cunning armaments and a toughened outer shell. Originally outfitted by the Tong she has many secrets, hidden even from the crew. She has ploughed the space lanes for generations on upgraded 'Sorcerous' Phoenix engines, hydrogen scoops and a solar sail. Below, a powerful well armed scout shuttle is stored next to the armoured Mule. For sick crew there is a fully stocked Chinese Apothecary. A well equipped maneuverable idiosyncratic ship, prepared for any circumstance.

• Some ideas...Euphoria Class Space Junk. Chinese built 200 year old Freighter. Basic design is slow but beautiful with cavernous holds and a warren of corridors. A favourite of the Tongs for smuggling they often end up upgraded far past their original specs. Renown for forming their own ghostly personalities and a tradition that each generation of owners leave their own mark with intricate and cunning changes. (probably a few Tong boss surprises too)

Crew Quarters

Pei Pei

The engine room, as opposed to the rest of the ship, which was built for conspicuous luxury, is essentially utilitarian, a cramped metallic space filled with machinery. This independent domain is hidden from visitors and passengers, the door disguised as a carving of a Fenghuang, and the ship's design generally pretends it doesn't exist, giving the eery impression that it silently glides through space by means of sorcery.

This suits Pei-Pei, something of a recluse by nature, just fine. She spends most of her time "keeping the little bird company", by which she means being shacked up with the machinery, reading a book or playing the flute (her late mother's dizi is one of the few belongings of hers Pei-Pei still conserves, and she is a modestly accomplished player) while she monitors the engines. Although she formally has a bunk asigned in the crew's quarters, most of the time she'll curl up among the steel tubing and let the "little bird" sing her to sleep.

Hugo Raynes

When entering Hugo's quarters it feels like you step back in time, right into the Unification war. Instead of doors his quarters are sealed of by large sheets of canvas, and inside his chamber it look just like an army barracks.

You'd think he's expecting a inspection any minute, so neat and clean are all his belongings ordered.

Chris Jarrow

Chris as a co-owner, has taken over one of the large staterooms. The room doubles as an office where business can be discussed. The cabin is furnished in a minimalistic fashion - at least so far as that goes on The Jade. That means the furnishings are of the topmost quality but are sparingly distributed around the room and there's little in the way of clutter, nor an excess of draperies. He keeps no mementos of his old life or family.

Nanny Ni Hao

Positioned just above the cockpit (accessed by a spiral stairwell..so good for an entrance my dear..) Nanny's room is as extravagant as its mistress and one that befits a member of a Tong. Full of silks, stone statues and incense. Paintings by the Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou adorn the walls. Behind one is a secret passage that disappears into the heart off the ship. All crew members have heard the rumours that it exists, giving the horny trader access to various beds and rooms in the ship at a whim. Small portraits of her foster children can be found on her dresser. A music centre links into the ships tannoy and is used to play excruciatingly loud chinese music when the mood suits her...

Statistics

• Knowledge
  • ploughed the space lanes for generations 13
  • prepared for any circumstance 17
• Fighting
  • toughened outer shell 13
  • outfitted by the Tong 13
  • cunning armaments 13
• Skills
  • Euphoria class Space Junk 13
  • illegal sensor suite 13
  • Chinese Apothecary 13
  • upgraded 'Sorcerous' Phoenix engines 13
  • hydrogen scoops 13
  • solar sail 13
  • maneuverable 13
• Social
  • ornate 13
  • beautiful sleek lines 13
  • sumptuous hardwood staterooms 13
• Resources
  • spacious holds 13
  • many hidden secrets 13
  • powerful well armed scout shuttle 13
  • armoured Mule 13
  • well equipped 13
• Flaws
  • idiosyncratic 13