Tales of Perpetual Peace/JianghuLoresheets - Revision history

Katechon: /* The Black Files */

2012-11-15T14:43:42Z

The Black Files

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:43, 15 November 2012
Line 18:		Line 18:
	====The Black Files====		====The Black Files====

	*'''4+ Involvement''': ~~You or~~ someone close to you is the subject of one of the Eagle Talon Syndicate's Black Files, whether to be spied upon, stolen from, or assassinated. ~~The Black File Division is implacable and it is dangerous; stopping them will be a very difficulty proposition~~.		*'''2+ Involvement/Destiny''': Perhaps someone close to you is the subject of one of the Eagle Talon Syndicate's Black Files, whether to be spied upon, stolen from, or assassinated. Or perhaps you yourself are involved, though not centrally, in one of their files.
	*'''4+ Fortune''': You have taken out a contract with the Syndicate that has been designated a Black File! What less-than-legal task do you need to see performed?		*'''4+ Fortune''': You have taken out a contract with the Syndicate that has been designated a Black File! What less-than-legal task do you need to see performed?
	*'''~~3+ Destiny~~''': ~~Your fate is tied to~~ the ~~success or failure of a~~ Black ~~File project!~~ ~~Work with your Sage to determine the nature of the project~~ and ~~the interested parties to it. Opportunities to influence its outcome~~ will ~~come across your path~~.		*'''0/5 Disadvantage''': You have been '''Targeted''' by the Black Files Division. They are implacable and supremely dangerous; stopping them will be a very difficulty proposition.

	'''Secrets of Destiny: The Black File Division'''<br>		'''Secrets of Destiny: The Black File Division'''<br>

Katechon: /* Eagle Talon Syndicate */

2012-11-13T18:41:34Z

Eagle Talon Syndicate

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:41, 13 November 2012
Line 16:		Line 16:

	===Eagle Talon Syndicate===		===Eagle Talon Syndicate===
			====The Black Files====

			*'''4+ Involvement''': You or someone close to you is the subject of one of the Eagle Talon Syndicate's Black Files, whether to be spied upon, stolen from, or assassinated. The Black File Division is implacable and it is dangerous; stopping them will be a very difficulty proposition.
			*'''4+ Fortune''': You have taken out a contract with the Syndicate that has been designated a Black File! What less-than-legal task do you need to see performed?
			*'''3+ Destiny''': Your fate is tied to the success or failure of a Black File project! Work with your Sage to determine the nature of the project and the interested parties to it. Opportunities to influence its outcome will come across your path.

			'''Secrets of Destiny: The Black File Division'''<br>
			(You must have at least Status 4 in the Eagle Talon Syndicate to take any of the following options)
			*'''2+ Status''': You are a member of the Eagle Talon Synidcate's elite Black File Division
			**'''0 Bonus''': You receive 1 point of Status free for every point over 4 you have in Eagle Talon Syndicate Status.
			**'''0 Bonus''': You have a free specialty in either Stealth: Assassination or Inspire: Espionage.

			'''Secrets of Destiny: Black File Division Kung Fu'''
			*'''0 Bonus''': If you are a Black File Specialist, you probably have '''Ebon Shadow''' as your Internal Style. You may learn all of its techniques rather than one per level.
			*'''0 Bonus''': You have a one-time, -2 Destiny discount to purchase one of the following as a secondary external style: '''Malicious Wasp''', '''Murderous Shadows''', or '''Ravenous Wings'''.

			*'''4 Secret''': You learn the '''''Stabbing Guest's Ease''''' Extraordinary Warrior Technique: You may perform any Minor Stealth Action on a single die.

			*'''5 Secret''': You learn the '''''Single-Minded Assassin''''' Extraordinary Warrior Technique. Once per chapter, you may designate one target for assassination. You Laugh At the target's defenses and never Fear them; additionally, you may Flood a die on your attack roll to ignore 5 points of the target's armor (this stacks with the Massive weapon effect).

			*'''4 Technique''': You learn the '''''Shadow of Death'''''.
			**When you attack from the shadows or in darkness, the Damage bonus of Murderous Shadows increases to +15

			*'''5 Technique''': You learn the '''''Inescapable Shadow Skill'''''.
			**While in Murderous Shadows and you use Midnight-Flying Dragon, the damage bonus increases by +5 if you create a special weapon.
			**While in Murderous Shadows and you use No Escape, you have a +5 to Strike against any opponent whose waves you've broken (this is a loresheet bonus)

			*'''5 Technique''': You learn the '''''Moonlight Sting''''' technique.
			**While in Malicious Wasp and you use Become the Night, you have a round-long +5 to Dodge;
			**While in Malicious Wasp and you use Deepening Darkness, opponents who suffer Awareness penalties due to darkness are considered to be in a different zone for the purposes for Malicious Wasp techniques.

			----

	===Yun Clan===		===Yun Clan===

Katechon: /* Guardians of the Bones */

2012-10-23T20:42:58Z

Guardians of the Bones

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:42, 23 October 2012
Line 250:		Line 250:
	'''The Thousand Eye Division'''<br>		'''The Thousand Eye Division'''<br>
	There are 64 Purple Star Sages; there are perhaps twice that many Guardians of the Bones; a few hundred minor Scholars, and perhaps a thousand scribes who toil away in Bagua Tower. But the greatest number of the Astral Directorate comes from the so-called Thousand Eyes Division, the vast network of informers, spies and observers that keep the Astral Directorate well-informed about events in Perpetual Peace, Shen Zhou, and even beyond. Reports from all under heaven come into the Astral Directorate every hour of the day, and much of the toil that falls to those scribes comes in sorting, digesting and destroying those reports.		There are 64 Purple Star Sages; there are perhaps twice that many Guardians of the Bones; a few hundred minor Scholars, and perhaps a thousand scribes who toil away in Bagua Tower. But the greatest number of the Astral Directorate comes from the so-called Thousand Eyes Division, the vast network of informers, spies and observers that keep the Astral Directorate well-informed about events in Perpetual Peace, Shen Zhou, and even beyond. Reports from all under heaven come into the Astral Directorate every hour of the day, and much of the toil that falls to those scribes comes in sorting, digesting and destroying those reports.
			*'''4 Fortune''': Once per chapter, you may declare that you have received sensitive information from the Thousand Eyes on a topic relevant to your current activities; this information is something that is otherwise held secret, and you have a +10 bonus to any related social actions or Discovery attempts related to it. (This is a Laughs At bonus.)
	4 Fortune: Once per chapter, you may declare that you have received sensitive information from the Thousand Eyes; this information is something that is otherwise held secret, and you have a +10 bonus to any related social actions or Discovery attempts. (This is a Laughs At bonus.)
	----		----

Katechon: /* Eight Mountain Sect */

2012-10-23T20:32:28Z

Eight Mountain Sect

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:32, 23 October 2012
Line 162:		Line 162:
	*'''5 Technique''': Dark Cloud Judgment		*'''5 Technique''': Dark Cloud Judgment
	**If you are in Destiny Cloud Fist stance and use Mountain-Leaping Step, you may spend one more Chi for Lightfoot than your Rank would normally allow.		**If you are in Destiny Cloud Fist stance and use Mountain-Leaping Step, you may spend one more Chi for Lightfoot than your Rank would normally allow.
	***If you are in Destiny Cloud Fist stance and use Pure Air Punishment, you attack causes Ripples as normal in addition to the penalties for respiring or using Corrupt Chi.		**If you are in Destiny Cloud Fist stance and use Pure Air Punishment, you attack causes Ripples as normal in addition to the penalties for respiring or using Corrupt Chi.

	*'''5 Technique''': Master of Breath		*'''5 Technique''': Master of Breath
	*If you are in Flowing Universe stance and use Suffocating Blow, you may 'stack' a second Breath Disrupt condition on the same opponent to lower his normal Chi respiration by 2.		**If you are in Flowing Universe stance and use Suffocating Blow, you may 'stack' a second Breath Disrupt condition on the same opponent to lower his normal Chi respiration by 2.
	**If you are in Flowing Universe stance and use Balance Through Excess, you have a +15 rather than +10 bonus to your Minor Action.		**If you are in Flowing Universe stance and use Balance Through Excess, you have a +15 rather than +10 bonus to your Minor Action.

Katechon: /* Eight Mountain Sect */

2012-10-23T20:32:04Z

Eight Mountain Sect

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:32, 23 October 2012
Line 165:		Line 165:

	*'''5 Technique''': Master of Breath		*'''5 Technique''': Master of Breath
	**If you are in Flowing Universe stance and use Suffocating Blow, you may 'stack' a second Breath Disrupt condition on the same opponent to lower his normal Chi respiration by 2.		*If you are in Flowing Universe stance and use Suffocating Blow, you may 'stack' a second Breath Disrupt condition on the same opponent to lower his normal Chi respiration by 2.
	**If you are in Flowing Universe stance and use Balance Through Excess, you have a +15 rather than +10 bonus to your Minor Action.		**If you are in Flowing Universe stance and use Balance Through Excess, you have a +15 rather than +10 bonus to your Minor Action.

Katechon: /* The Diamond Vehicle */

2012-10-22T19:24:56Z

The Diamond Vehicle

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:24, 22 October 2012
Line 180:		Line 180:

	===The Diamond Vehicle===		===The Diamond Vehicle===
			*'''Secrets of Destiny: The Diamond Vehicle'''
	*'''Secrets of Destiny: Diamond Vehicle Kung Fu'''		*'''Secrets of Destiny: Diamond Vehicle Kung Fu'''
	*'''The Shambalan Embassy'''		*'''The Shambalan Embassy'''

Katechon: /* The Great Clans */

2012-10-22T19:09:23Z

The Great Clans

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:09, 22 October 2012
Line 254:		Line 254:

	===The Great Clans===		===The Great Clans===
			The Xin are not, and never have been, a monolithic power in Shen Zhou; they have long depended upon the support of several Clans from different regions to support their reign, and often to act as their proxies in matters of local administration. The Clans who have given their support to the Dynasty most unsparingly have been rewarded for it -- their daughters are taken in as Imperial Consorts (none can remember the last Empress who was not of one of the Great Clans), their younger sons are given choice assignments in the military or the bureaucracy, and, as long as taxes are paid, storehouses are filled, and laborers delivered, they are mostly left alone in their own territory to do as they wish.<br>
			<br>
			But these Clans are not only forces in the halls of government, but in the world of the Jianghu, as well. In addition to the two listed above (the Yun and the Yue), the following are the five most prominent of the Great Clans.
	====Bei Clan====		====Bei Clan====
			Lords of the Northern Marches, the Bei are often derided for customs and bloodlines that have been shaped by the Steppes they patrol. They nevertheless are the most reliable sources of horseflesh in the Empire, and few cavalry units in Shen Zhou don't feature a Bei Clan officer.
	====Li Clan====		====Li Clan====
			The current Great Clans are not the only ones the Xin era has seen; old Clans have fallen away, and new ones arise. One of the original Clans to enjoy the favor of the Xin, the Li are in danger of falling into irrelevance. These days they have little but their names and an honorable history to support them.
	====Shu Clan====		====Shu Clan====
			The Shu are the rising star to the waning Li. They have gone from a minor clan of the southern hills to a major force in the halls of power thanks to mineral-rich mines and a shrewd and ambitious patriarch. Few know what to make of them, but none ignore them any longer.
	====Wei Clan====		====Wei Clan====
			Merchants have always occupied the lowest strata of society in Shen Zhou; they neither produce, nor protect, nor rule, but instead profit by the work of others. That's the ideology, anyway. The Wei, whose power rests entirely on their shrewd mercantile investments and operations, give the lie to that theory.
			====Zhao Clan====
			The Zhao were only a generation ago the greatest of the Great Clans, but what appeared at the time to be a crowning glory -- the Fifteenth Emperor's choice of one of their young princesses as Empress, followed by her Regency in the wake of the Emperor's suicide -- turned into ruin in the reaction to the Dowager Empress's Regency. The Zhao retain the formal rights of their station, but they are virtual pariahs among high society.

	=The Criminal Underworld=		=The Criminal Underworld=

Katechon: /* The Five Trades */

2012-10-21T23:36:30Z

The Five Trades

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:36, 21 October 2012
Line 274:		Line 274:
	'''The Iron Trade'''<br>		'''The Iron Trade'''<br>
	('''2 Destiny'''; members of the Three Harmonies Union and the Eagle Talon Syndicate may access this loresheet free of cost)<br>		('''2 Destiny'''; members of the Three Harmonies Union and the Eagle Talon Syndicate may access this loresheet free of cost)<br>
	~~<br>~~		*'''4+ Fortune''': You have stumbled upon information relating to as assassination plot against a figure of some importance. What you do with this information is up to you -- you can act to protect the target, or to interfere with the plot as you wish.
	'''The Smoke Trade'''<br>		'''The Smoke Trade'''<br>
	('''2 Destiny'''; members of the Black Lotus Society may access this loresheet free of cost)<br>		('''2 Destiny'''; members of the Black Lotus Society may access this loresheet free of cost)<br>
	~~<br>~~		*'''2+ Fortune''': Once per chapter, you may declare that a single NPC has a drug habit that you supply, directly or indirectly. The Sage has final say based on plausibility, and the importance of NPC you can so designate depends on how much Destiny you invest in this option.
			*'''2+ Treasure''': You have some valuable related to the drug trade; it can be a cache of intoxicants, a smuggling route, or an established drug den.
	'''The Flesh Trade'''<br>		'''The Flesh Trade'''<br>
	('''2 Destiny'''; members of the Three Harmonies Union, the Black Lotus Society, and the Resplendent Phoenix Society may access this loresheet free of cost)<br>		('''2 Destiny'''; members of the Three Harmonies Union, the Black Lotus Society, and the Resplendent Phoenix Society may access this loresheet free of cost)<br>
	~~<br>~~		*'''5 Destiny''': Your story will have an impact -- perhaps a decisive one -- on the '''Willow War''', the struggle between various criminal organizations, for whom Willow Districts are resources to be exploited, and the Resplendent Phoenix Society, who are engaged in the ceaseless struggle to protect the well-being of women from harm.
	'''The Finger Trade'''<br>		'''The Finger Trade'''<br>
	('''2 Destiny'''; members of the Three Harmonies Union and the Beggar Fraternity may access this loresheet free of cost)<br>		('''2 Destiny'''; members of the Three Harmonies Union and the Beggar Fraternity may access this loresheet free of cost)<br>
	<br>		<br>

	==The Law==		==The Law==
	('''3 Destiny'''; members of the Liquid Metal Delegates may access this loresheet free of cost)		('''3 Destiny'''; members of the Liquid Metal Delegates may access this loresheet free of cost)

Katechon: /* The Criminal Underworld */

2012-10-21T18:15:14Z

The Criminal Underworld

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:15, 21 October 2012
Line 260:		Line 260:

	=The Criminal Underworld=		=The Criminal Underworld=
			In the glory days of the Xin Dynasty, Perpetual Peace could boast of being the safest city in Shen Zhou. The city's constabulary was effective and, from the perspective of common criminals, ubiquitous. Crime was not unheard of -- like poverty, it shall always be with us -- but its growth was constantly checked, and those who would make their livelihoods by illicit means had to work twice as hard and be twice as smart as their counterparts in less lawful places and times.<br>
			But the glory days of the Xin seem to have passed now, and as their authority recedes, the Green Forest (''Lulin'') grows. The parts of the city that are home to the Great and the Good, and those that remain vital to the government's interest, remain relatively crime-free, but less fortunate parts have seen marked increases in thefts, beatings, the sale of illicit intoxicants, loansharking, unregistered brothels, and all manner of proscribed activity.
			==The Trees of the Green Forest==
			*'''1+ Involvement''': You story is tied to one of the many Lulin gangs in Perpetual Peace. Work with your Sage to define the details of the gang -- their turf, their distinguishing marks, their preferred criminal activities. If you wish the gang to acknowledge you as their leader, you should take this as a '''Fortune''' option, instead.
			**'''0 Bonus''': If you are a member of the Eagle Talon Syndicate, the Beggar Fraternity, the Black Lotus Society, the Three Harmonies Union, or the Yue Clan, you have a one-time, -2 Destiny discount to purchase Involvement with a gang.
			**'''2 Fortune''': Once per chapter, you may declare that you have received some useful information from the gang with which you're involved about activities within the criminal underworld. Your Sage may couch the information in rumor and exaggeration, but there will be useful information passed to you.
			==The Five Trades==
			Custom among the criminals of Perpetual Peace divides the various criminal enterprises in the city into five 'trades': the Bronze Trade, which includes counterfeiting, loansharking, extortion and any smuggling or black market goods besides drugs; the Iron Trade, which covers any criminal activity involving violence (up to and including assassination); the Smoke Trade, which includes anything involving the manufacture, smuggling, or sale of illicit intoxicants; the Flesh Trade, which covers both non-licensed brothels and slave labor; and the Finger Trade, for anything involving theft, from the small scale to the grandiose.<br>
			<br>
			'''The Bronze Trade'''<br>
			('''2 Destiny'''; members of the Three Harmonies Union and the Yue Clan may access this loresheet free of cost)<br>
			<br>
			'''The Iron Trade'''<br>
			('''2 Destiny'''; members of the Three Harmonies Union and the Eagle Talon Syndicate may access this loresheet free of cost)<br>
			<br>
			'''The Smoke Trade'''<br>
			('''2 Destiny'''; members of the Black Lotus Society may access this loresheet free of cost)<br>
			<br>
			'''The Flesh Trade'''<br>
			('''2 Destiny'''; members of the Three Harmonies Union, the Black Lotus Society, and the Resplendent Phoenix Society may access this loresheet free of cost)<br>
			<br>
			'''The Finger Trade'''<br>
			('''2 Destiny'''; members of the Three Harmonies Union and the Beggar Fraternity may access this loresheet free of cost)<br>
			<br>
			==The Law==
			('''3 Destiny'''; members of the Liquid Metal Delegates may access this loresheet free of cost)

Katechon: /* Three Harmonies Union */

2012-10-21T16:42:10Z

Three Harmonies Union

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:42, 21 October 2012
Line 187:		Line 187:

	===Three Harmonies Union===		===Three Harmonies Union===
	*'''Secrets of Destiny: Three Harmonies Union ~~Kung Fu~~'''		'''Concept''': Part criminal organization, part political resistance movement, the Union are the dominant force in the Underworld.<br>
	*'''The ~~Way~~ of ~~Honor~~ and the ~~Way~~ of ~~Silver~~'''		When the Xin first came to power, they were embraced by almost all of Shen Zhou as a source of stability and order. Not everyone felt that way, however; some looked upon their claims to the Imperial Seal as fraudulent, and yearned for a legitimate claimant to the Han legacy. Out of this was born the Three Harmonies Union. Originally a secret society dedicated to undercutting Xin power, over time they evolved into the principal criminal organization in Perpetual Peace.<br>
	*'''~~Lords~~ of the ~~Lulin?~~'''		'''Main Virtues''': Loyalty, Honor, Ferocity<br>
	*'''~~Black Market Fortunes~~'''		<br>
	*'''~~The Elder Council~~'''		'''Secrets of Destiny: Three Harmonies Union'''
			*'''3+ Status''': You are a member of the Three Harmonies Union. While members can come from any class, very few 'foreigners' are allowed to join the organization.
			**'''0 Bonus''': You have either a '''Politics Specialty: Criminal Underworld''' or '''Inspire Specialty: Intimidation'''.
			*'''3+ Fortune''': Whether you are a member of the Three Harmonies Union or not, past dealings with a member of that organization has earned you a favor from their leadership. The size of this favor depends on the amount of destiny spent, but until it is 'cashed in', you will be treated with respect and a certain amount of deference by the rank and file of the organization.
			'''Secrets of Destiny: Three Harmonies Union Kung Fu'''
			*'''0 Bonus''': You have a one-time, 2 Destiny discount to purchase one of the following as a secondary external style: Eight Legends, Grey Dusk, or Virtuous Adjutant.
			*'''0 Technique''': The Union has adapted the Virtuous Adjutant style to suit its evolving (devolving?) mission; you no longer Fear acting under malicious orders (though you still Fear acting under foolish ones).
			*'''5 Technique''': You learn the '''Honor Among Thieves''' technique; while in Virtuous Adjutant style, opponents suffer a -10 penalty to their checks when trying to use the Courtier's Arts against you. If they fail their check, they suffer a Ripple.

			'''Lords of the Lulin?'''<br>
			For most of the Xin era, the criminal underworld has been a relatively small world. An effective constabulary aided by the ubiquitous eyes of the Astral Directorate kept criminals cautious and unambitious. Nevertheless, the Union were the undisputed masters of that small Lulin world. Now that the Xin have slid into decadence and the enforcement of the laws is neglected, the Union has become more ambitious and more aggressive, demanding its "cut" of any criminal enterprise in the city. But new opportunities have brought new competitors, and challenges unlike the Union has faced before.
			*'''3+ Fortune''': At the ground level, the Union is divided into ''Spears'', semi-autonomous gangs with defined territory or activities. You are the leader of one of these gangs, and have a crew who follow your orders. You may not spend more Destiny on this option than your Status rating in the Union.
			**'''-2''': You have a rival within the Union -- or even within your own Spear! -- for control of your territory.
			*'''5 Destiny''': You will face outside competition for control of your territory, and this contest will bear on the fate of the Union as a whole!
			'''The Harmonious Council'''<br>
			The leadership of the Union is the Harmonious Council, a board of the three most respected members of the organization as voted upon by the heads of the Spears. The three current Council members are '''Master Hong-bo''', the eldest of the trio and one of a dwindling number who cleave to the political origins of the Union; '''Bright-Eyed Crane''', the financial mastermind of the Union and operator of many of the city's gambling parlors; and '''Northern Tiger Yu''', the newest Councilor, much beloved by the rank and file, and eager to take the Union in new directions.
	----		----