Niu Pa - Revision history

Silent Wayfarer at 16:43, 19 April 2015

2015-04-19T16:43:04Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:43, 19 April 2015
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	===Homecoming===		===Homecoming===
	The ~~wiry young lookout squints at~~ the ~~column~~ of ~~approaching figures from behind his grazing cow~~. ~~It's a small entourage~~, not ~~more than twenty riders...~~ but ~~they looked like they were armed, and there was a pair~~ of ~~finely-decorated carriages behind them. He tsks in disgust. Carriages were always bad news. They meant someone who couldn't ride a horse or walk or trail~~, ~~which meant officials, which meant tax collectors. And the tax collectors ''always'' tried~~ to ~~take more than~~ their ~~share~~. ~~Sometimes~~, ~~they tried~~ to ~~lay their hands on~~ the ~~animals. Other times, on~~ the ~~girls~~.		The small village of Buluo is nestled in the mountains, amidst large fields walled off from the rest of the world by the ridges around them. Said fields have just been harvested, but the festival the villagers are hosting is not simply to celebrate bringing in the crops, but also to hail the return of sons once thought lost, but come back to rejoin their families. Indeed, the entire detail (with the exception of Lieutenant Qima and Gong Shan) he brought with him to his home is composed of the surviving veterans who were conscripted from the village to aid in the war effort; it is a testament to Niu's care and concern for his men that he managed to return with all but five of the two dozen men he left Buluo with.

	~~But~~ the ~~one which stood out clearest~~ the ~~boy~~'s ~~mind wasn't~~ the ~~most recent one, but rather~~ the ~~one where they'd taken his big brother~~, and ~~many~~ of the ~~able young men~~ of the village~~. He'd been too young to be called up~~ at ~~the time, but he still remembered his brother, waving farewell to them and promising he'd return~~.		Gong Shan has followed his father to the countryside on occasion and is somewhat used to their rustic ways, but Qima's still somewhat stiff among the smiling, happy villagers. He's not used to the owner of the house personally coming out to welcome him and offer him local snacks, though a keen sense for politeness compels him to swiftly consume it and keep it down, regardless of how exotic it seems to him. But Qima and Gong Shan are left behind in the center of the village, while the Ox General returns home at last.

	~~That had been years ago~~. ~~If he was returning, he'd have come~~ back ~~by now~~.		"Big Brother!" Niu Jia breathes, touching her suddenly pink cheeks. "You came back..."

	"~~Bastards~~," he ~~spits~~.		"Almost didn't recognize him," Niu Min grins, trying to reach up to his shoulder and not quite succeeding; he must have put on a growth spurt during the war because now he's much taller than she remembers, and when he walks face first into a doorframe that used to be a good foot over his head, the house trembles and threatens to collapse.

	The sentry looks closer at the formation. He didn't recognize the man riding at its head; if it was even a man. For a moment, he'd taken him to be some sort of cow that had learned to ride, from the points of his helm to the coat of blackened plates that made him ~~look like a statue of black iron. Equally dark was the mighty steed he rode~~, ~~save for a white spot on its forehead that..~~. ~~was moving?~~		"Took him long enough," Niu Xin mutters. "Must have been fun killing and fighting and-"

	~~He rubs~~ his ~~eyes~~. The ~~sun was playing tricks on~~ them.		"Now, A-Xin, is that any way to talk to your brother?" Niu Nu chides as she smiles up to her big son. Instinctively, Niu drops to one knee, so his mother can reach her arms around his neck. His little sisters take the chance to climb up Niu's coat of plates and fasten themselves to his pauldrons.

			"Big bro, big bro, which of us is A-Fan?" the twins giggle. Of course Niu has no clue, given that he hasn't seen them in years, when they were still hanging on to Big Sister Xin's hands. Carefully, he reaches his hands up to lightly pat their heads with hands that are easily the size of their torsoes.

			"It doesn't matter, I'll dote on you both just the same," he smiles.

			"Awwww, that's not fair, you didn't answer us!" they reply in unison. Still, it seems to satisfy them, and they drop off his shoulder and run out the door. No doubt they'll be telling the stories of their gigantic brother to all the other kids in no time. Before that, however, they find the man Niu most wants to see; his father, Niu Lang,

			"A-Pa, my boy! Heavens, you've grown! Guess it makes sense though, you go out into the big open world, and you expand to fill it. And I saw one of your boys by the big fire just now; he was telling us that he was your assistant. Imagine that, a farmboy with a nobby young man as a squire! Come, tell us all about it... no, better yet - the headman's going to have a big feast. We can have storytime there!"

			--

			Much like everything in Niu's life, when he feasts, he feasts - it's as though he's determined to make up for three years of missed dinners here - and when he's invited to tell his tales, he gives it his all. His fellow soldiers, all village natives at well, chip in to corroborate his accounts too; from his impressing and intimidation of the nasty sergeants at boot camp, to his staunch, unyielding strength and stamina that promoted him to an officer, Niu's glory is spread not by the man himself, but by the ones he carried along with him. Of course, it falls to him to narrate the great battles that established him as one of the San Jie; the taking of Huan Ford, the siege of Ping Yuan, the treacherous attack before and the great victory of Ping Yuan. The tale seems almost too unreal to believe, but the Ox General stands before them, and every man who came back with him swears upon their family altars that Niu Rouyuan speaks the truth.

			Loud cheering echoes up from the villagers, and soon the festivities begin in earnest, with dancing, singing, and the like. It's also the time for young lovers to separate from the pack and confess their affection to each other - and Ni finds a familiar face pulling him away...

Silent Wayfarer at 14:05, 19 April 2015

2015-04-19T14:05:42Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:05, 19 April 2015
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	'''Siblings:'''		'''Siblings:'''
	*Niu ~~Yinglan~~, Biggest Sister, Age 16		*Niu Min, Biggest Sister, Age 16
	** A tomboy who wishes she were born a man. Competitive with her big brother but has a girly interior.		** A tomboy who wishes she were born a man. Competitive with her big brother but has a girly interior.
	*Niu ~~Guilan~~, Bigger Sister #2, Age 13		*Niu Jia, Bigger Sister #2, Age 13
	** Responsible and reserved, she secretly has a crush on her big brother.		** Responsible and reserved, she secretly has a crush on her big brother.
	*Niu ~~Qilan~~, Big Sister #3, Age 11		*Niu Xin, Big Sister #3, Age 11
	** A delinquent daughter who ~~nevertheless~~ dotes on her little sisters. ~~Jealous of~~ Niu for "abandoning them".		** A delinquent daughter who crushes on Jia and dotes on her little sisters. Resents Niu (mildly) for "abandoning them".
	*Niu ~~Yufan~~, Twin Sister 1, Age 8		*Niu Lan, Twin Sister 1, Age 8
	** Ridiculously adorable and playful, pranks people by disguising herself as her sister.		** Ridiculously adorable and playful, pranks people by disguising herself as her sister.
	*Niu ~~Yulan~~, Twin Sister 2, Age 8		*Niu Fan, Twin Sister 2, Age 8
	** Ridiculously adorable and playful, pranks people by disguising herself as her sister.		** Ridiculously adorable and playful, pranks people by disguising herself as her sister.

Silent Wayfarer at 16:42, 16 April 2015

2015-04-16T16:42:58Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:42, 16 April 2015
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	'''Siblings:'''		'''Siblings:'''
	*Niu ~~Zhangnǚ~~, Biggest Sister, Age 16		*Niu Yinglan, Biggest Sister, Age 16
	** A tomboy who wishes she were born a man. Competitive with her big brother but has a girly interior.		** A tomboy who wishes she were born a man. Competitive with her big brother but has a girly interior.
	*Niu ~~Cinǚ~~, Bigger Sister #2, Age 13		*Niu Guilan, Bigger Sister #2, Age 13
	** Responsible and reserved, she secretly has a crush on her big brother.		** Responsible and reserved, she secretly has a crush on her big brother.
	*Niu ~~Sannǚ~~, Big Sister #3, Age 11		*Niu Qilan, Big Sister #3, Age 11
	** A delinquent daughter who nevertheless dotes on her little sisters. Jealous of Niu for "abandoning them".		** A delinquent daughter who nevertheless dotes on her little sisters. Jealous of Niu for "abandoning them".
	*Niu Yufan, Twin Sister 1, Age 8		*Niu Yufan, Twin Sister 1, Age 8
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	===Homecoming===		===Homecoming===
	The wiry young lookout squints at the column of approaching figures. It's a small entourage, not more than twenty riders... but they looked like they were armed, and there was a pair of finely-decorated carriages behind them. He tsks in disgust. Carriages were always bad news. They meant someone who couldn't ride a horse or walk or trail, which meant officials, which meant tax collectors. And the tax collectors ''always'' tried to take more than their share. Sometimes, they tried to lay their hands on the animals. Other times, on the girls.		The wiry young lookout squints at the column of approaching figures from behind his grazing cow. It's a small entourage, not more than twenty riders... but they looked like they were armed, and there was a pair of finely-decorated carriages behind them. He tsks in disgust. Carriages were always bad news. They meant someone who couldn't ride a horse or walk or trail, which meant officials, which meant tax collectors. And the tax collectors ''always'' tried to take more than their share. Sometimes, they tried to lay their hands on the animals. Other times, on the girls.

	But the one which stood out clearest the boy's mind wasn't the most recent one, but rather the one where they'd taken his big brother, and many of the able young men of the village. He'd been too young to be called up at the time, but he still remembered his brother, waving farewell to them and promising he'd return.		But the one which stood out clearest the boy's mind wasn't the most recent one, but rather the one where they'd taken his big brother, and many of the able young men of the village. He'd been too young to be called up at the time, but he still remembered his brother, waving farewell to them and promising he'd return.

203.117.131.8 at 09:19, 16 April 2015

2015-04-16T09:19:02Z

@@ Line 150: / Line 150: @@
 ====Lieutenant Hong Yu, the Crimson Lance (Level 2 General)====
-The leader of the Five Lances, Niu Pa's self-proclaimed bodyguards. A hot-blooded idealist, Chi Qiang is a strong believer in honor and loyalty.
+The leader of the Five Lances, Niu Pa's self-proclaimed bodyguards. A hot-blooded idealist, Hong Yu is a strong believer in honor and loyalty.
 ====Lieutenant Lan Yu, the Azure Lance (Level 2 General)====
@@ Line 329: / Line 329: @@
 "Yes, ma'am!" he replies.

203.117.131.8 at 03:25, 10 April 2015

2015-04-10T03:25:05Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:25, 10 April 2015
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	"That's a cute name," she giggles. "Well then, Rouyuan. Next time, you'll have to pay proper attention!"		"That's a cute name," she giggles. "Well then, Rouyuan. Next time, you'll have to pay proper attention!"

	"Yes, ma'am!" he replies.		"Yes, ma'am!" he replies.

	--

	~~After what seems like forever but is only about half an hour, Rouyuan and Ziyan are descending the hill when Ziyan calls out, "Oh my! Butterfly, what are you and Blacky... oh, ''my''."~~

	~~Niu looks down and sees that his horse is... well, he's doing his part to increase the equine population of China - and in a most vigorous fashion, too.~~

	~~"Heavens, Blacky," Niu mutters, and continues climbing down. The ebon stallion finishes just as they reach the ground, and Niu knuckles his head in reproach.~~

	~~"Come on, Blacky, why're you embarrassing me in front of her..." he hisses.~~

	~~Blacky merely neighs in contentment, then baps Niu on the head and flicks his head toward Ziyan, as though to say, "go on, you're next".~~

	~~"Absolutely not, you randy animal, Ziyan's a pure and-"~~

	~~"Ah... Colonel? Could I borrow a cloth of some kind? Butterfly's a little... well, wet."~~

	~~Blacky's whinnying sounds almost like laughter as Niu goes for the blanket from the saddlebags~~.

Silent Wayfarer: /* Morning Ride */

2015-04-05T12:37:56Z

Morning Ride

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Silent Wayfarer at 17:25, 4 April 2015

2015-04-04T17:25:50Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:25, 4 April 2015
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	There is silence for a while, broken only by the wind rushing through the open stable door. Then, there is a laugh. A soft, tinkling laugh, one which makes all the strength flee his mighty body.		There is silence for a while, broken only by the wind rushing through the open stable door. Then, there is a laugh. A soft, tinkling laugh, one which makes all the strength flee his mighty body.

	"And what if I was not a thief, dear General?" Zhang Ziyan replies. She turns, and even in silhouette and wearing a coat, she cuts a fetching figure, one slim hand stroking Blacky's face. ~~Well, no wonder he wasn~~'t ~~making a ruckus; the horse knew a good person when~~ he ~~saw one~~.		"And what if I was not a thief, dear General?" Zhang Ziyan replies. She turns, and even in silhouette and wearing a coat, she cuts a fetching figure, one slim hand stroking Blacky's face. Niu doesn't know how to respond, but he tries anyway.

	~~===A Cordial Visit===~~		"I... ah... well... I... good morning, Lady Zhang? Have you eaten yet?"
	~~Lieutenant Qi Ma is not a man who loses his balance (physical or mental) easily~~. ~~As an elite horseman, he's used to being the one frightening people from atop his steed~~. ~~As a minor lord, he knows he's better than the rank and file, and he carries himself thusly~~. ~~And as an officer, he knows he must keep his wits about him, to keep an unlucky turn of events from becoming a disastrous rout, or more plainly~~, ~~a slaughter.~~

	~~However~~, ~~even he is ill-prepared for the sight~~ of ~~the Ox General approaching him with~~ a ~~veritable bush of ginkgo flowers~~ in ~~hand. It would be a comic sight if only he didn't have such an earnest expression on his face~~.		"Good morning, Colonel. No, I have not eaten; actually, I was thinking of a quick ride out in the country while the staff prepare breakfast."

	"~~How about these~~, ~~Qima?" he asks~~. ~~"Are these good?~~"		"But... but it's dark out, and while there haven't been any bandits sighted, it would be dangerous to go alone..."

	"~~They look pretty~~,~~" the cavalry captain nods~~. "I'~~m sure she'll like them. But~~..."		"Oh, I am well aware of that fact. But I won't be going alone... will I?"

	~~It's almost heartbreaking to see how his face lights up~~, ~~then falls~~ at ~~the last word~~.		Even in the pre-dawn darkness, Niu can tell Ziyan is looking right at him. Looking at him, and waiting for an answer.

	"~~Well, to begin with,~~ I'd ~~strongly suggest~~ the ~~male flowers;~~ the ~~female ones bear rather... stinky fruit. And with women~~, ~~one should remember that excessiveness can be frightening. For instance, this~~.~~.. impressive bush-"~~		"...I'd like nothing more than to escort you, Lady Zhang," Niu says. As the words hit the breeze, a tension he didn't know he had slowly seeps out of him.

	"~~But you said~~ a ~~handful!~~"		"And I would gladly accept a bodyguard of the General of Iron Might," she replies. "Come with me, then. The sun will be up soon."

	~~"Indeed I did, Colonel; however, I hadn't reckoned on the size of your hands. Perhaps... fewer?"~~		--

	~~The look on~~ Niu~~'s face is so forlorn that Qi Ma finds himself continuing on his own.~~		Niu Pa isn't used to being led. Normally he's the one doing the leading, even if his assistants have to whisper which way to go. Now, however, he's mounted astride Blacky, who's obediently following Ziyan on her own brown yearling. That too is a surprise; Blacky typically ignores everyone who isn't Niu, Xiaobai, or very close friends.

	~~"Why don~~'t ~~I help you pick them out? You'll have~~ to ~~select the best, of course, since it~~'s ~~your gift~~, ~~but I could provide a second opinion~~."

	~~"You would? Oh~~, ~~thank you~~, ~~Qi Ma! I honestly don~~'~~t know anyone I could trust with this; Big Brother and Xiao Chi are too busy for these things~~, ~~and Suoyou~~'s ~~long gone, while Zhang Lang and the Sun Brothers don't know anything, and - Qi Ma?"~~

	~~The horse officer~~ isn't ~~responding; being caught on the receiving end of a crushing hug will do that to you. A quick movement later~~, ~~he's dusting himself off and catching his breath.~~

	~~"No worries~~, ~~sir - we'll solve this~~. ~~Count on it!"~~

Silent Wayfarer: /* Morning Ride */

2015-04-04T04:06:30Z

Morning Ride

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:06, 4 April 2015
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	All that is several days in the past, however, and as Niu rises, the only thing on his mind is how cold it is, and if Blacky was cold. Xiaobai's home is around his neck - the kitten enjoys basking in the Ox General's body heat - but Blacky is far too large to fit in a guesthouse's room and it won't do for Niu to sleep in a stable.		All that is several days in the past, however, and as Niu rises, the only thing on his mind is how cold it is, and if Blacky was cold. Xiaobai's home is around his neck - the kitten enjoys basking in the Ox General's body heat - but Blacky is far too large to fit in a guesthouse's room and it won't do for Niu to sleep in a stable.

	However, those thoughts go out the window as soon as he hears a familiar whickering. Rouyuan lumbers toward Blacky's stall, just in time to see a shape silhouetted in ~~the~~ frame of the ~~stable~~'~~s door. Immediately~~, ~~he drops into~~ a ~~battle stance~~; he ~~needs no arms or armor~~, ~~for his elephantine strength and toughness provide both in abundance~~.		However, those thoughts go out the window as soon as he hears a familiar whickering. Rouyuan lumbers toward Blacky's stall, just in time to see te stable door open, and a shape silhouetted in its frame. Honed instinct kicks in, and he evaluates the situation. Someone was approaching Blacky. Normally he wouldn't be worried, because Blacky is as stable as a mountain and as strong as a storm; a mere horse thief would be slaughtered before he could even lay a hand on the horse's hide. Yet, the horse seems to be receptive to the intruder's attentions.

	~~"Who~~'s ~~there?"~~ he ~~asks, advancing slowly toward the shape. "I am the Ox General, Niu Pa. If you're~~ a ~~thief~~, ~~leave your spoils behind~~ and ~~depart,~~ and ~~that will be the end of it~~."		Niu's not sure if his decision is driven by caution or jealousy, but he does adopt a fighting stance, shunning weapons and armor for his elephantine might and constitution provide a sword and hauberk in their own right.

	~~(TBC)~~		"I am the Ox General, Niu Pa," he announces. "If you are a thief, begone immediately and you will not be pursued. Persist, and you will be rewarded in accordance to your wickedness!"

			There is silence for a while, broken only by the wind rushing through the open stable door. Then, there is a laugh. A soft, tinkling laugh, one which makes all the strength flee his mighty body.

			"And what if I was not a thief, dear General?" Zhang Ziyan replies. She turns, and even in silhouette and wearing a coat, she cuts a fetching figure, one slim hand stroking Blacky's face. Well, no wonder he wasn't making a ruckus; the horse knew a good person when he saw one.

	===A Cordial Visit===		===A Cordial Visit===

Silent Wayfarer at 18:00, 2 April 2015

2015-04-02T18:00:54Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:00, 2 April 2015
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	"Big Brother, it is good to meet you," Niu says, offering a toast. "Please advise your Second Brother in the way he should go."		"Big Brother, it is good to meet you," Niu says, offering a toast. "Please advise your Second Brother in the way he should go."

			===Morning Ride===
			It's been days since they left Yuan Shao's palatial estate, but Niu still recalls the splendor of the Duke's palace in his dreams. Everything is gold, and everything is silk, and when he wakes, sometimes he imagines that he's still dressed in the fine robes he was provided as a guest.

			Duke Yuan had made Niu a gift of the set, saying that he should be "clothed in raiments befitting of his station". Niu spent half a day wondering what the man was saying before Lieutenant Qi, sensing the large man's distress, quietly whispered that it meant he should dress like a hero.

			"But a hero wears armor," Niu said. "I wear armor. Lots of it!"

			"Duke Yuan is a man of the courts, and believes the best armor is fine clothing, to improve others' impressions of you." He does not elaborate on the implied insult, that Yuan Shao considers Niu Pa unsophisticated and clumsy enough that he needs to be clothed and trained by his betters. He's not sure if Niu would mind anyway - the Ox General is keenly aware of his lack of intellect and gladly follows anyone with a better idea than himself. Granted, with his strength, he doesn't exactly need tactics... but it is possible to win most of the battles and still lose the war, so Qi Ma is eager to keep that from happening.

			All that is several days in the past, however, and as Niu rises, the only thing on his mind is how cold it is, and if Blacky was cold. Xiaobai's home is around his neck - the kitten enjoys basking in the Ox General's body heat - but Blacky is far too large to fit in a guesthouse's room and it won't do for Niu to sleep in a stable.

			However, those thoughts go out the window as soon as he hears a familiar whickering. Rouyuan lumbers toward Blacky's stall, just in time to see a shape silhouetted in the frame of the stable's door. Immediately, he drops into a battle stance; he needs no arms or armor, for his elephantine strength and toughness provide both in abundance.

			"Who's there?" he asks, advancing slowly toward the shape. "I am the Ox General, Niu Pa. If you're a thief, leave your spoils behind and depart, and that will be the end of it."

			(TBC)

	===A Cordial Visit===		===A Cordial Visit===

183.90.37.69 at 14:57, 25 March 2015

2015-03-25T14:57:36Z

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